The conversation around fairness in women’s sports just took a major turn.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is now stepping up to take the lead in creating a new policy that specifically aims to protect the female category in competitive sports.
Controversy Around Transgender Boxers Sparks Urgent Action
This move follows intense backlash over the participation of transgender athletes at the last Olympic Games.
Two boxers, Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, found themselves in the eye of the storm after winning gold medals.
Allegations soon emerged that they were biologically male, a claim that fueled public outrage and reignited debate over the IOC’s lack of clear guidelines.
A Patchy Past with Trans and DSD Regulations
For years, the IOC has chosen not to enforce a universal policy, instead letting individual sports federations make their own rules.
That decentralized approach has now come under fire, especially after both Khelif and Yu-ting were banned from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA), the former ruling body of the sport.
Since then, a new authority — World Boxing — has stepped in, and they’re not taking any chances.
Last month, they introduced mandatory sex testing for all athletes wanting to compete, with Khelif specifically listed as someone who must be tested before joining this month’s Eindhoven Box Cup.
IOC’s First Female President Takes a Bold Stand
Kirsty Coventry, the newly elected president of the IOC and the first woman to ever hold the role, is making this issue a top priority.
At her debut press conference, the 41-year-old Zimbabwean emphasized the need for fairness and clarity.
“There was overwhelming support from our members,” she said.
“We all agree that the female category must be protected. It’s not about looking back to punish, but about moving forward with better structure and consensus.”
A New Working Group to Lead the Change
To make this happen, Coventry announced that a specialized working group will be created.
This team will include scientific experts and international sports federations, all working together to craft a well-researched and widely accepted policy.
Coventry explained, “We understand that each sport may have different considerations, but the consensus is that the IOC should lead.
This isn’t something that can be rushed.
It’s about bringing in the right minds, studying the science, and making sure everyone is on the same page.”
No Retroactive Action Despite Public Pressure
Meanwhile, calls from IBA president Umar Kremlev to strip Khelif of her Olympic gold medal seem to be falling on deaf ears.
In an exclusive with Mail Sport, Kremlev urged the IOC to take action, but Coventry made it clear: the focus is forward, not backward.
“We’re not going to re-litigate the past,” she said.
“The goal now is to learn from what happened and build a stronger, fairer Olympic movement going forward.”
What’s Next?
As the working group begins its research and consultations, the IOC is preparing for what could be one of the most impactful policy shifts in modern Olympic history.
With transgender participation continuing to be one of the most polarizing issues in sports today, all eyes will be on how the IOC balances inclusion, fairness, and competitive integrity.