:no_upscale())
IOC President Kirsty Coventry
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved a new Policy on the Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport, alongside guiding considerations for International Federations and sport governing bodies.
Approved by the IOC Executive Board, the policy will apply from the LA28 Olympic Games onwards and is not retroactive. It applies only to IOC events and does not affect grassroots or recreational sport.
Under the policy, eligibility for the female category at IOC events will be based on biological sex. Eligibility will be determined through a one‑time screening for the presence or absence of the SRY gene, which the IOC states is a highly accurate indicator of male sex development and can be conducted via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample.
Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene will permanently meet the eligibility criteria for the female category, subject to confirmation where there is reason to believe a result is in error. With rare exceptions, including athletes with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) or other specific differences of sex development who do not benefit from testosterone related‑ performance effects, athletes who screen positive for the SRY gene are not eligible for the female category at IOC events.
The New Zealand Olympic Committee has received the IOC’s announcement and the introduction of the policy, which will apply to the Olympic Games and other IOC events from LA28 onwards.
NZOC Chief Executive Nicki Nicol said the organisation acknowledged the significant body of work that had underpinned the IOC’s decision.
“We recognise the extensive consultation and expert input that has informed this policy, including the inclusion of athlete voice, to bring greater clarity, consistency and fairness to eligibility for the female category at the Olympic level,” Nicol said.
The IOC has stated that the policy is intended to protect the female category in an Olympic context, recognising the importance of a distinct female category to support equality, integrity and the visibility of women’s sport at the highest level.
“As the New Zealand Olympic Committee, our focus now is on understanding the policy fully and working carefully with our sports, the Athletes’ Commission and ALN to ensure any next steps are approached with clear understanding, respect and care,” Nicol said.
Sex based eligibility criteria for the female category are not new across elite sport. A number of‑ international federations, including World Athletics, already have eligibility frameworks in place.
Nicol said the NZOC was mindful of the impact policy changes can have on individuals.
“This is a complex and sensitive area that directly affects people, not just policy. We are committed to showing Manaaki by supporting athletes’ wellbeing, privacy and dignity.”
The IOC has emphasised that the policy is athlete-centred, respects privacy and dignity and requires education, counselling and appropriate medical and wellbeing support as part of implementation. The policy replaces all previous IOC statements on this matter, including the Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non‑-Discrimination on the Basis of‑ Gender Identity and Sex Variations.
Speaking about the policy, IOC President Kirsty Coventry said:
“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. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat.”
For the full IOC press release, click here