The Paralympic movement is preparing for the possibility of new restrictions on transgender athletes competing in women’s categories, with senior officials indicating that any future policy will be driven primarily by scientific evidence and aligned with the direction being explored by the Olympic movement.
International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons took part in recent Olympic-led scientific meetings that examined whether transgender athletes who experienced male puberty may retain physical advantages relevant to performance.
The discussions are believed to have focused on competitive fairness and athlete safety, both of which have become central considerations for sports bodies reviewing eligibility rules.
While any blanket exclusion would be contentious and risks being viewed as discriminatory, the issue has become increasingly prominent across global sport.
Political pressure has also grown in some countries, including calls from US President Donald Trump urging restrictions on participation in women’s events.
No changes to Paralympic policy are expected before the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
For now, the Paralympics next March will take place under existing rules, which allow each sport to set its own eligibility criteria.
The Paralympic movement is preparing for the possibility of new restrictions on transgender athletes competing in women’s categories, with senior officials indicating that any future policy will be driven primarily by scientific evidence and aligned with the direction being explored by the Olympic movement
|GETTY
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Parsons said scientific assessment must be the starting point for any decision.
“Science should guide this decision, so it should not be cultural, religious or even social elements driving how the transgender situation should be dealt with in the world of sport,” he said.
“What I have seen, the only thing I can share with you, is that science is guiding the IOC direction that they are still going to take on the transgender issue.”
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International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons took part in recent Olympic-led scientific meetings that examined whether transgender athletes who experienced male puberty may retain physical advantages relevant to performance
|GETTY
He welcomed the IOC’s involvement in shaping a consistent framework.
“When you have the IOC taking the leadership, it’s very positive because it also provides directions to everyone else in the sport world,” he said, while acknowledging that different sports will be affected in different ways.
Transgender athlete Valentina Petrillo made history in Paris 2024 by becoming the first openly transgender competitor at a Paralympics.
Petrillo did not win a medal, but the milestone brought renewed scrutiny to how eligibility rules are formed and applied.
Mr Parsons stressed that Paralympic officials will wait for the IOC’s final position before deciding whether to align with it.
Valentina Petrillo became the first transgender athlete at the Paralympics last year
| PA“We may see more transgender athletes taking part in sport activities,” he said.
“And then there is a big discussion on if they have a sport advantage or not compared to female athletes. So I think it’s a hot topic, obviously, that we do not ignore.”
It has also been reported that the IOC is considering a broader eligibility overhaul that could include athletes with differences in sex development, though the IOC has stated that no decisions have yet been made.
Any final ruling is expected to be discussed at an IOC session next year.