Transgender women are set to be prohibited from participating in women’s events at the Olympic Games. This decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) comes after a scientific review highlighted the inherent physical advantages of individuals born male.
According to a report from The Times, the IOC is expected to unveil its new policy early next year. Previously, the IOC allowed transgender women to compete with lowered testosterone levels, leaving the final decision to individual sports.
Under the leadership of new president Kirsty Coventry, the IOC’s stance is shifting to safeguard the integrity of the female category. Dr. Jane Thornton, the committee’s medical and scientific director and a former Olympic rower from Canada, presented the initial findings of the review to IOC members in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Thornton emphasized the lasting physical advantages associated with being born male, even after undergoing treatment to reduce testosterone levels. Sources described the presentation as factual and well-received by IOC members.
The IOC is expected to make an official announcement of the new policy in early 2026, possibly during the Winter Olympics session in February. Coventry highlighted the importance of protecting the female category while acknowledging the varying impacts on different sports and the need for a scientific approach in collaboration with international federations.
In another development, Sky has discounted its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, offering savings of £192 and access to over 1,400 live matches across leagues, including the Premier League and EFL. Sky plans to broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 matches compared to previous seasons.