IOC Announces New Policy on the Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a new policy focused on the protection of the female (women’s) category in Olympic sport, marking an evolution in how athlete eligibility will be determined and governed. The policy is intended to apply to the LA 2028 Olympic Games and will not be implemented retroactively.

A central component of the framework is the use of SRY gene testing to help inform eligibility for competition in the female category. The IOC states that the objective of the policy is to support fairness and equity in women’s sport, particularly in the context of performance differences associated with sex-linked physiological characteristics.

The announcement enters an area of ongoing discussion within sport, where considerations of competitive fairness, inclusion, and athlete rights intersect. This article outlines the new process, how the recommendations were developed, and what the policy may mean for athletes.

An Overview of the New Process

At the centre of the policy is the introduction of SRY gene testing to determine eligibility to compete in the female category.

The SRY gene, located on the Y chromosome, is associated with male sex development. The IOC positions this form of screening as both scientifically grounded and minimally intrusive relative to other testing approaches, with samples collected through saliva, cheek swab, or blood.

Importantly, the test is designed as a one-time process. Athletes who do not present the SRY gene are considered to meet eligibility criteria for the female category on a permanent basis.

The policy also recognizes limited exceptions. Athletes with certain differences of sex development, such as Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS), who do not experience the performance-related effects of testosterone, may still be eligible to compete in the female category under the framework.

How the Recommendations Were Developed

The policy emerges from a multi-year review process led by the IOC, spanning from 2024 to early 2026. This group included experts across disciplines – such as endocrinology, sports medicine, ethics, and law – as well as medical representatives from international sport federations. Their review of current evidence led to a consistent finding: that male biological characteristics confer performance advantages across sports that rely on strength, power, and endurance.

Athlete input was also a defined component of the process. Feedback was gathered through surveys, interviews, and engagement with the IOC Athletes’ Commission. According to the IOC, this consultation indicated broad support for clear, consistent eligibility criteria grounded in science, alongside an expectation that athlete dignity, privacy, and well-being remain central in implementation.

The resulting policy reflects a convergence of scientific assessment, stakeholder consultation, and the IOC’s stated objectives for women’s sport – fairness, safety, and the continued development and visibility of the female category.

What This Means for Athletes

The policy sits within a complex and evolving landscape. It addresses long-standing questions around fairness and competitive integrity in women’s sport, while also intersecting with ongoing discussions related to inclusion and athlete identity.

For female athletes whose biology and identity align, this, for many, marks a positive step toward ensuring equity at the highest level of sport, in a context where alternative approaches could, based on current scientific understanding, compromise the integrity and fairness of competition and opportunities for athletic success.

At the same time, while the policy specifies that athletes who do not meet the eligibility criteria may compete in male or open categories where available, its implications for transgender, non-binary, and some athletes with differences of sex development (DSDs) remain an area of active discussion. Questions around access and competitive pathways for these groups are likely to continue to evolve.