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Transgender women to be banned from all female Olympic events

383 replies

Misla · 10/11/2025 11:54

About time!!

IOC likely to announce new policy early in new year after findings of a scientific review about the permanent physical advantages of being born male

The International Olympic Committee is set to announce a ban on transgender women in female competition early next year after a science-based review of evidence about permanent physical advantages of being born male.

The IOC’s guidance to Olympic sports has until now been that transgender women can compete with reduced testosterone levels but leaves it up to individual sports to decide. That is now set to change under its new president, Kirsty Coventry, who has promised to protect the female category.

The committee’s medical and scientific director, Dr Jane Thornton, last week presented to IOC members at a meeting in Lausanne the initial findings of a science-based review into the issues of transgender athletes and athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) competing in female sport.

Free-to-read link: https://archive.is/kGpyI

Transgender women to be banned from all female Olympic events

Transgender women to be banned from all female Olympic events

IOC likely to announce new policy early in new year after findings of a scientific review about the permanent physical advantages of being born male

https://www.thetimes.com/sport/olympics/article/olympic-ioc-transgender-athlete-ban-womens-sports-zhlpfll3b

OP posts:
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21
stickygotstuck · 10/11/2025 13:23

Finally. But unbelievable that it was ever in question.

Re. transmen, presumably they'd be banned from female competitions too, due to the elevated artificial testosterone they take. Essentially, they're doping.

CustardySergeant · 10/11/2025 13:22

One comment under the article was
"I expect the BBC will be asking a drag queen on Woman's Hour what he thinks of this decision."

theilltemperedmaggotintheheartofthelaw · 10/11/2025 13:22

I wonder how they will word the rule. Exclusion of all candidates who test positive for SRY gene, unless with a confirmed diagnosis of CAIS or Swyer Syndrome?

whynotwhatknot · 10/11/2025 13:20

finally and lets hope they take the medals off those so calledwomen boxers too

caringcarer · 10/11/2025 13:16

Lovelyview · 10/11/2025 13:14

The BBC is running a story saying a decision hasn't been reached yet.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cy4p29j4z70o

If it's the BBC it's probably lies.

Dragonasaurus · 10/11/2025 13:16

impossibletoday · 10/11/2025 12:53

Olympics to ban trans athletes from all women’s events

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/018864e60a8ef1fb

Even the Telegraph! No, trans athletes are not banned from women’s sports. Trans identified females who are not doping are welcome!

Still, the whole thing is a huge step back to where we all thought we were at the end of the last century - and yes, medals should definitely be stripped/re-awarded

caringcarer · 10/11/2025 13:16

They finally arrived at sensible decision most 6 year olds would make.

WandaSiri · 10/11/2025 13:11

mackerella · 10/11/2025 13:02

Aargh, I wish they wouldn't use headlines like this! It's not "trans athletes" who are being barred from women's events, but specifically transwomen (as the Times article reported correctly). Presumably trans men are still theoretically able to compete in women's events (although whether they would want to is another matter).

Show quote history

Spot on.
Or even better, "male" athletes.

I very much hope they apply this to all male dsd athletes as well,

Munchyseeds2 · 10/11/2025 13:10

Fantastic news

theilltemperedmaggotintheheartofthelaw · 10/11/2025 13:08

NoBinturongsHereMate · 10/11/2025 13:07

Re medal stripping: won't happen. Unlike doping, previous competitors were within the rules at the time.

And it wouldn't work for knock-out tournaments.

ETA comment applies to correctly reawarding medals, sorry.

AnSolas · 10/11/2025 13:08

impossibletoday · 10/11/2025 12:53

Olympics to ban trans athletes from all women’s events

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/018864e60a8ef1fb

Shame on Jeremy Wilson
How unprofessional is it that he could not write a honest report.

Males (only) are being banned.

Females who are not taking banned substances are not being prevented from trying to access Olympic gold.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 10/11/2025 13:07

Re medal stripping: won't happen. Unlike doping, previous competitors were within the rules at the time.

fromorbit · 10/11/2025 13:05

Huge win for everyone who risked their careers over this.

The fight back continues at the grass roots level.

Biology is a thing.

Hicupping · 10/11/2025 13:03

But no one cares about transmen. They never do.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 10/11/2025 13:03

Men.

Needspaceforlego · 10/11/2025 13:03

I hope they strip all these men of medals. Would be good to get any winners prize money back too but thats probably much harder.

mackerella · 10/11/2025 13:02

impossibletoday · 10/11/2025 12:53

Olympics to ban trans athletes from all women’s events

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/018864e60a8ef1fb

Aargh, I wish they wouldn't use headlines like this! It's not "trans athletes" who are being barred from women's events, but specifically transwomen (as the Times article reported correctly). Presumably trans men are still theoretically able to compete in women's events (although whether they would want to is another matter).

Hicupping · 10/11/2025 13:02

I cannot believe we've had what 5 years+ of people arguing that they don't have an advantage and women just need to try harder. People in positions of power and supposedly smart going along with this extreme stupidity. Estrogen doesn't change leg/arm length, lung size, muscle structure, they don't have to deal with periods etc etc.

It's not as if you ever needed to deep dive the data, it's known fact we've known for thousands of years, women didn't physically build the pyramids, they used men. They knew, these people knew they just decided to throw women under a bus.

Everyone who defended this insanity should be removed from positions of power.

ItsCoolForCats · 10/11/2025 13:01

Great news. It will be interesting to see whether sporting bodies who still allow makes in the female category will follow suit.

ChaToilLeam · 10/11/2025 13:00

Common sense finally prevails.

crazeekat · 10/11/2025 13:00

At least someone seeing thru the nonsense

waitam · 10/11/2025 13:00

Awaiting BBC report spin on this.

Randomesttnought · 10/11/2025 13:00

This is why there’s an issue with trusting experts. Even the most dumb person knew this. It’s beggars belief they needed to review this. Scary.

EmpressaurusKitty · 10/11/2025 12:59

Finally!