Transgender Women To Be Banned From All Female Olympic Events?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) insists “no decisions have been taken yet” on imposing a blanket ban on transgender women in all female events, even as a recent scientific review reportedly concluded that male advantages persist despite testosterone reduction.

November 11, 2025: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is facing intense pressure to finalize its rules on the eligibility of transgender athletes, but officials confirmed today that no definitive policy has been adopted yet, despite reports suggesting a complete ban is imminent.

Last week, the IOC’s medical and scientific director, Dr. Jane Thornton, delivered an update to IOC members in Lausanne on the initial findings of a scientific review. The review reportedly laid out “factual and unemotional” evidence suggesting that biological advantages gained through male puberty may persist in athletes, even after they have taken steps to reduce their testosterone levels.

Working Group Continues Discussions

Following the presentation, speculation mounted that the IOC would announce a universal ban—potentially effective before the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics—to supersede the current non-binding guidance that allows individual sports federations to set their own testosterone-based eligibility rules.

However, an IOC spokesperson pushed back on reports of an immediate decision:

IOC Spokesperson (Quoted by Reuters): “The working group is continuing its discussions on this topic and no decisions have been taken yet. Further information will be provided in due course.”

The working group was established by the new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, who succeeded Thomas Bach in June. Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer, has been vocal about her priority to “protect the female category,” stating she wants the IOC to take a leading role in finding consensus among experts and international federations.

Pressure to Protect the Female Category

The momentum towards a universal, restrictive policy follows controversies in major sports and a drive by international federations—such as World Athletics and World Aquatics—to implement outright bans on athletes who have gone through male puberty from the female category.

While the IOC has previously supported inclusion and only advised sports bodies on managing competitive advantage, the scientific findings presented by Dr. Thornton, along with public pressure from athletes and political figures, signal a significant shift toward prioritizing fairness in the women’s category.

Sources suggest a final policy could be announced within the next six to twelve months, potentially coinciding with an IOC Session in Milan ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.