The debate over transgender athletes in Olympic sport is heating up again, with a ban on transgender women edging closer and expected to take effect in time for the LA Games in 2028.
However, questions remain over whether athletes with differences of sexual development, or DSD, will face similar restrictions following the controversy in Paris at the 2024 boxing events.
Currently, individual Olympic sports can decide if transgender women are eligible to compete, provided their testosterone levels fall below a specified threshold.
But the International Olympic Committee (IOC), under new president Kirsty Coventry, is reportedly considering a blanket ban across all disciplines.
Preventing Repeat Scenarios Like Tokyo 2021
The potential policy shift is partly designed to prevent situations like the one in Tokyo 2021, when Laurel Hubbard, who transitioned in 2012, competed in weightlifting.
Olympic insiders have confirmed that a total ban is very much the “direction of travel,” though it is unlikely to be implemented before the Winter Olympics in Italy next February.
While some reports suggested a rule change could be announced as early as February, sources estimate it may take six months to a year before any decision is finalized and approved.
Coventry’s Agenda and Political Implications
For IOC president Coventry, the move would mark a major milestone.
She campaigned on protecting the female category during her election earlier this year, and a ban would fulfill a key promise.
It would also sidestep potential conflicts with political leaders, including former President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order in February barring transgender women from female sports competitions.
Scientific Discussions and Ongoing Deliberations
Last week, IOC medical, health, and science director Dr Jane Thornton delivered a presentation to IOC members in Lausanne, reviewing the science behind transgender and DSD participation.
However, the IOC emphasized that no decisions have yet been made and that the executive board, which meets next in December, has not received a formal proposal.
An IOC spokesperson told Daily Mail Sport: “An update was given by the IOC’s Director of Health, Medicine and Science to the IOC Members last week during the IOC commission meetings.
The working group is continuing its discussions on this topic and no decisions have been taken yet.”
The Complex DSD Debate
While the transgender policy is moving toward clarity, the situation for DSD athletes remains murky.
These athletes, who may have male chromosomes but were raised female, sparked controversy in Paris 2024.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan won boxing gold medals, despite having been disqualified at the 2023 World Championships for reportedly failing gender eligibility tests.
The IOC executive committee, including Coventry at the time, faced intense criticism for allowing the boxers to compete, and insiders say a DSD-specific rule change is likely in the long term, though it faces internal opposition.
Looking Ahead to LA 2028
As discussions continue, the IOC is trying to balance fairness, inclusivity, and competitive integrity across all sports.
While a blanket transgender ban may be on the horizon, the future for DSD athletes remains uncertain, and the decisions made over the next year will shape the competitive landscape for LA 2028 and beyond.