The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry, has announced that transgender women athletes have been barred from competing in female Olympic events.

In a video shared on the IOC’s official account on March 26, 2026, Coventry explained that scientific testing of chromosomes indicates that transgender women have a performance advantage over biological women.

She noted that, based on this scientific evidence, the IOC has decided to halt what it considers an unfair advantage transgender athletes may have over their competitors.

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“Today, we, the International Olympic Committee, have published a policy on the protection of the female category. I understand that this is a very sensitive topic. As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition. The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart.

“The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advantages in sports that rely on strength, power, or endurance. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So it’s absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category,” she said.

Coventry added that the IOC is prepared to defend the decision, emphasising that it ensures fairness and transparency in Olympic events.

She further indicated that athletes will only need to be screened once to determine their biological status.

“In addition, in some sports, it would simply not be safe. Every athlete must be treated with dignity and respect, and athletes will only need to be screened once in their lifetime. There must be clear education around the process, with counselling available alongside expert medical advice.

“The IOC recognises the importance of widespread participation in grassroots and recreational sports programmes and the impact that sport has in society. However, the Olympic Games focus on elite sport, and in elite sport, we must ensure fairness, safety, and integrity in all competitions,” she added.

Watch the video below:

The International Olympic Committee announces new Policy on the Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport.

Read: https://t.co/QcU5IVxyTi pic.twitter.com/3brHorx1k8

— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) March 26, 2026