The International Olympic Committee has announced a ban on transgender athletes competing in women’s competitions.
The decision means only biologically female athletes will be eligible for both individual and team events at the Games or any IOC event.
A once-in-a-lifetime gene test will determine which events athletes can compete in.
The ruling means that the Olympic women's sport eligibility criteria will be in line with US President Donald Trump's executive order ahead of the next games in Los Angeles in 2028.
It follows a science-based review of evidence on the permanent physical advantages of being born male.
Previously, Olympic sports had the power individually to decide whether transgender women could compete with reduced testosterone levels.
While athletics and swimming already have bans in place for athletes who have been through male puberty, the new ruling means all events will follow the same requirements.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry has repeatedly affirmed her desire to "protect the female category".
The International Olympic Committee has announced that only biologically female athletes can compete in women’s competitions
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It has been one of her key principles since she became the first woman to lead the Olympic body in its 132-year history.
The IOC said that its own research indicates that being born male confers physical advantages that are retained.
The document said: "Males experience three significant testosterone peaks: in utero, in mini-puberty of infancy and beginning in adolescent puberty through adulthood."
It added that this gives males "individual sex-based performance advantages in sports and events that rely on strength, power and/or endurance."
Kirsty Coventry has repeatedly affirmed her desire to 'protect the female category'
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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.
"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."
She added: “Every athlete must be treated with dignity and respect, and athletes will need to be screened only once in their lifetime. There must be clear education around the process and counselling available, alongside expert medical advice."
The decision means only biologically female athletes will be eligible for both individual and team events at the Games or any IOC event
| GETTYThe changes aim to put an end to a decade of controversies involving transgender athletes and those with differences in sexual development.
The new rules, which will aim to make the games fairer for all participants, follow a gender row at the boxing tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Imane Khelif from Algeria and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting, won gold medals despite having been disqualified from the previous year’s World Championships for allegedly failing to meet gender eligibility criteria.
In Tokyo in 2021, transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard was allowed to represent New Zealand in the women’s event.
Imane Khelif was permitted to take part in the Paris Olympics despite controversy surrounding her involvement | GETTYA press conference has been called at 3:15pm to further confirm exactly how the ruling will be implemented.
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," just days after his second term began last year.
The order effectively bans transgender women and girls from competing in female sports categories at the high school, university, and grassroots levels.
It defines "sex" as an "immutable biological classification as either male or female" determined at birth.
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order
| REUTERSThe order, which is thought to have accelerated legislation by the Olympic committee, explicitly states that "sex" is not synonymous with "gender identity".
Unlike the US order, the IOC's decision is not retroactive and does not apply to any grassroots or recreational sports programmes.
It also aligns with UK law following the Supreme Court gender ruling in 2025.
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on April 16 last year that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer to "a biological woman and biological sex".
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