IOC Mandates SRY Gene Test for 2028 Women's Events

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says it will introduce genetic eligibility screening for women’s Olympic events starting with the Los Angeles 2028 Games. The policy, announced March 27, 2026, would limit entry in female categories to athletes the IOC defines as biologically female.

Under the plan, athletes seeking to compete in women’s events would take a one-time test for the SRY gene. Based on the IOC’s stated approach, the requirement would exclude transgender women from women’s Olympic competition.

What changed and why it matters now

The IOC’s move marks a shift toward a single, standardized genetic criterion for women’s categories at the Olympics. The decision matters because it sets a uniform rule that national Olympic bodies and international federations will need to operationalize ahead of LA 2028.

France’s Sports Minister, Marina Ferrari, criticized the decision and said it raises ethical, legal, and scientific issues. She described the policy as a “step backwards” and argued it could weaken equality by focusing scrutiny on women while not reflecting biological variation, including among intersex people.

Reactions split across governments and Olympic bodies

Former U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the IOC’s announcement and linked it to his February 2025 executive order that banned transgender athletes from women’s sports. The IOC statement itself, as presented in the available material, does not detail any formal connection to U.S. policy.

In Oceania, the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said they recognized the IOC’s decision and framed it as providing clearer, more consistent rules. NZOC Chief Executive Nicki Nicol pointed to consultation and expert input, while AOC President Ian Chesterman said the approach aligns with fairness, safety, and integrity in Olympic competition.

Context: a long-running debate over eligibility rules

Ferrari noted that similar testing practices were halted in 1999 due to scientific concerns, highlighting that the IOC is revisiting a tool previously set aside. The IOC’s new policy also arrives after high-profile participation by New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, the first openly transgender woman to compete at the Olympics, at the Tokyo 2021 Games.

Key operational details remain unclear in the information provided, including how the IOC will handle athletes with intersex traits, what appeals process would exist, and how testing will be administered across sports and countries. Those unknowns could shape legal exposure, athlete welfare considerations, and the consistency of enforcement between events.