Two prominent sports commentators have publicly supported policies restricting transgender women from competing in women's athletic events, following recent International Olympic Committee guidance on the issue.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith stated there is "no excuse" for what he termed "biological men" competing in women's sports during recent commentary. Smith framed his position as support for women's athletics, suggesting that transgender women's participation negatively impacts female athletes.

Separately, veteran broadcaster Bob Costas praised the IOC's policy changes regarding transgender athlete participation, stating that "common sense is not transphobic." Costas expressed approval for the international organization's new restrictions on transgender women competing in female categories.

The International Olympic Committee has updated its framework for transgender athlete participation, shifting responsibility for eligibility decisions to individual sports federations. The policy change represents a departure from previous IOC guidance that focused on testosterone levels as the primary criterion for participation.

The debate over transgender athlete participation in sports has intensified across various levels of competition, from youth athletics to professional leagues. Supporters of restrictions argue they are necessary to preserve competitive fairness for female athletes, while advocates for transgender inclusion contend such policies discriminate against transgender individuals.

Both commentators' statements reflect ongoing discussions within sports media and athletic organizations about how to balance inclusion and competitive equity in women's sports categories.