Spanish
Madrid, Spain. – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirmed that transgender athletes will be able to participate in the Olympic Games, as long as they meet the classification criteria, although they must compete in the category corresponding to their biological sex.
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The clarification is part of an official document issued by the Olympic body following the decision made on March 26, which establishes that only biological women will be able to compete in women's events starting from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This measure will not be retroactive, so it will not affect previous results. The IOC, chaired by Kirsty Coventry, emphasized that the regulations do not exclude transgender athletes, but rather seek to ensure fair competition conditions. In that sense, athletes who meet the requirements will be able to compete, but in the men's category if they are biologically male.Eligibility Tests
To determine participation in the female category, a test for the detection of the SRY gene, associated with male biological development, will be implemented. This examination, considered highly reliable by the organization, is performed only once and through a non-invasive procedure. The IOC considers exceptions in specific cases, such as certain rare genetic disorders, including androgen insensitivity syndrome, which could allow participation in the female category after additional evaluations. Furthermore, the organization indicated that some international federations may request exceptions in disciplines where sex does not represent a significant competitive advantage, as is the case in equestrian sports.Terms and application
Athletes who choose not to undergo eligibility tests will not be able to compete in the women's category in future Olympic editions. In the case of minors, validation may be carried out with the consent of their guardians, and will be mandatory at the Youth Olympic Games from 2030. The IOC explained that this update responds to recent scientific advances and consultations with independent experts, federations, and representatives of the Olympic movement. Finally, the organization reiterated that all results from previous competitions, including those from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, remain unchanged, as they complied with the regulations in force at the time.
