Olympics bans biological men from competing in women’s categories

Men who identify as women will be banned from competing in women’s sports from the next Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced the new policy following advice from medical experts that allowing biological males to compete alongside women would be unfair and unsafe. Athletes will undergo an “unintrusive” and “once-in-a-lifetime” test if they want to compete in the women’s categories.

It confirmed that biologically male athletes who are now unable to compete in the women’s category will still be able to compete in male categories or mixed-category sports for which they qualify. The test results will not be applied retrospectively or to grass-roots competitions, meaning any men who have previously won medals in women’s categories will not have their medals stripped from them.

Performance advantages

Kirsty Coventry, the President of the IOC, said: “At the Olympic Games even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat.

“So it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”

The IOC said its working group reviewing scientific evidence found that “male sex provides a performance advantage in all sports and events that rely on strength, power and endurance”.

Its consultation with athletes showed “a strong consensus that fairness and safety in the female category required clear, science-based eligibility rules, and that protecting the female category is a common priority”.

Fairness and safety

Former Olympic swimming silver medallist Baroness Sharron Davies wrote: “I’m extremely pleased the IOC has seen fit to use results, science & common sense to protect the female category & return fair & safe sport to women & girls.”

Rebecca Paul MP commented: “About time! I never want to see a man punching a woman in the face in an Olympic event ever again. What happened in Paris was shameful.”

Women’s rights organisation Sex Matters posted on X: “We welcome the news that the IOC has finally done the right thing. Women have been cheated of fairness in sport for years. It’s not kind or inclusive to deny fair, safe sport to women and girls. The female category must be exactly that, male-free, wherever it exists.”