February brought the end of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games. As usual, there were many triumphs, failures, and displays of international athletic camaraderie. Now, just one short month later, all eyes have turned to the next Olympic stage.
In 2028, the city of Los Angeles is set to host the Summer Olympics. The games being held in the United States amidst the current political climate have sparked a lot of controversy. Worldwide, President Trump is under fire for strict immigration policy,support of ICE in detaining and deporting undocumented residents of America. With these policies, many foreign fans are already hesitant to travel to LA to watch the games. Additionally, many individuals have expressed concerns over the likely displacement of unhoused people. LA is home to the country’s highest rate of unsheltered people, with a population of over 71,000.
The most recent controversy, however, arrived at the end of March. In a press release from March 26, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) announced a new “policy on the protection of the female (women’s) category in Olympic sport.” To elaborate, the IOC has just announced a formal ban on transgender athletes competing at future Olympics in women’s events .
The women’s category is now limited to biological females only. This includes any event, both individual and team-based, at the Olympic Games, the Paralympics or any other sporting event hosted by the IOC. To implement this new policy, the committee plans to use mandatory Sex-determining Region Y gene (SRY) gene testing. The test identifies the presence of the SRY gene, which is located on the Y chromosome present in biological males. The testing is done using cheek swabbing, blood testing or saliva. If the athlete tests negative for the gene, then they are free to participate in their respective event under the women’s category. Conversely, if an athlete tests positive for the SRY gene, they are banned from competing under the women’s category. However, the IOC did claim that any such athletes would be “eligible for any male category, including in a designated male slot within any mixed category, and any open category, or in sports and events that do not classify athletes by sex.”
The IOC claims that this test is “uninvasive,” and has explained that it is only required once in an athlete’s career. Additionally, there are exceptions for athletes with certain disorders who could potentially test positive for the SRY. For example, athletes with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) or other disorders in sex development (DSDs) will still be allowed to compete beneath the female category so long as they do not use “performance-enhancing” testosterone.
This announcement comes two years after the controversial scandal regarding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Although she won gold at the Paris Summer Olympics, she was only able to compete after proving she was biologically female. She was disqualified by the International Boxing Association in 2023 for unspecified gender criteria. While she met all eligibility requirements and was cleared to compete in the Paris games, this scandal fueled the recent debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The IOC’s actions claim to be well-intended and oriented around the protection and maintenance of equal competition in female athletics, but it is apparent that this decision is fanning the flames of political scrutiny surrounding the United States’ involvement in hot-button issues. Many critics are adamant that the timing of this new policy could not be any worse. In an era where trans people are being stripped of their rights, and in some cases, being denied legal identification in certain American states, an announcement like this only furthers hatred towards trans people. Hopefully, the Olympics community can move past this and come together in 2028 for a celebration of international talent and sportsmanship.