The International Olympic Committee announced Thursday a new eligibility policy that will exclude transgender women from competing in women's events at the Olympics, beginning with the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Under the policy, participation in women's Olympic categories will be limited to biological females, determined through a one-time SRY gene screening test. The IOC stated the policy aims to "protect fairness, safety and integrity in the female category" and will apply to all Olympic events including individual and team sports.

The decision comes after IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the first woman to lead the Olympic body in its 132-year history, initiated a review of female category protections as one of her early priorities upon taking office last June. Multiple sources noted the timing aligns with a recent U.S. executive order on women's sports.

The policy also affects athletes with differences in sex development (DSD), a medical condition that has previously impacted competitors like two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya. The IOC's 10-page policy document cites research showing that males retain physical advantages from testosterone exposure during development, particularly in sports requiring strength, power, and endurance.

No transgender women competed in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, and it remains unclear how many, if any, transgender women currently compete at Olympic levels. The policy is not retroactive and does not apply to grassroots or recreational sports programs. Before this announcement, major Olympic sports including track and field, swimming, and cycling had already implemented similar restrictions for transgender women who had undergone male puberty.