The International Olympic Committee is expected to impose a sweeping ban on transgender women competing in women’s sports before the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games. Multiple sources told The Guardian the policy could take effect within the next year, aligning with President Donald Trump’s demand to ban all trans athletes from Olympic competition. Trump, who appointed himself chair of the White House Task Force on the 2028 Olympics, declared, “The United States will not let men steal trophies from women at the 2028 Olympics.”
The likely ban follows IOC President Kirsty Coventry’s campaign promise and mirrors restrictions already adopted by many global sports bodies. Trans civil rights lawyer Alejandra Caraballo warned, “What [an IOC gender testing] policy will do is wreak havoc on intersex women… They will be disqualified and have their entire lives upended…Since the Olympics are being held in LA, this policy would violate state civil rights law and I hope trans and intersex athletes challenge such a policy.” If adopted, the policy could reshape the global debate over inclusion in sports.
