Athletes are expressing strong support for the International Olympic Committee’s recent decision to prohibit transgender women from participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, calling it a significant win for women’s sports.
Jennifer Say, a former member of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team, remarked, “The IOC is taking the right steps with gender testing. The Los Angeles Olympics will prioritize women-only sports.” She shared her thoughts on X shortly after the announcement.
“This is huge. Kudos to the IOC.”
Say, who is also the founder and CEO of XX-XY Athletics, an apparel line focusing on women-only sports, has been quite outspoken about this issue.
Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer known for her criticism of transgender women in women’s sports, echoed Say’s sentiments.
“Trans women aren’t banned from women’s sports. Men have theirs. This should clarify things!” she noted on X.
Other former Olympians also showed their approval. Sharon Davis, an Olympic representative from Britain and a current member of the House of Lords, welcomed the IOC’s decision.
Davis expressed gratitude, stating, “The IOC is rightly using science and common sense to protect women’s categories and ensure fair and safe sport for women and girls.” She added that it’s unfortunate this issue wasn’t addressed sooner and emphasized that all women and girls should enjoy sports without male competition.
The new guidelines restrict Olympic participation in women’s sports to biological females, determined by a specific genetic screening. This will be enforced during the 2028 Summer Games.
The IOC explained that these changes are designed to “maintain the integrity, safety, and fairness of the women’s category,” noting that the policy does not affect grassroots or recreational sports.
It remains uncertain how many, if any, transgender women might be competing at the Olympic level, as those who were assigned male at birth did not participate in the upcoming 2024 Paris Games.
Following an Executive Board meeting, the IOC released a policy document outlining these regulations. It also places restrictions on athletes like Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic runner with a condition known as Differences in Sexual Development.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry emphasized the need for a clear policy to standardize eligibility across sports. “At the Olympics, even minor differences can determine success,” she stated. “Hence, it’s apparent that allowing biological males to compete in the women’s category is unfair.”
