US Bans Trans from Women’s Olympic Events

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has introduced a revised Athlete Safety Policy that effectively bars transgender women from participating in women’s events at the Olympics.

This update comes in direct alignment with Executive Order 14201, signed earlier this year by President Donald Trump.

The policy change, which does not explicitly use the term transgender, introduces new criteria under a section titled “Additional Requirements.” It states that the USOPC will work with relevant bodies to ensure a fair and safe environment for women’s competitions in accordance with federal mandates.

USOPC President Gene Sykes and CEO Sarah Hirshland detailed the changes in a letter addressed to the national Olympic community. The correspondence, circulated by major outlets such as ESPN and the Washington Post, emphasized the committee's responsibility to comply with federal expectations and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to women’s sports integrity.

As part of the update, all national governing bodies must revise their own policies to match the new federal-aligned standards.

This decision mirrors similar recent moves, including changes by the NCAA, which now restricts women’s sports participation to athletes assigned female at birth.

Executive Order 14201, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” threatens institutions that allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s categories with loss of federal funding. It also instructs the US Secretary of State to press the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to amend its rules for Olympic events, citing fairness and safety for female athletes.

This is part of a broader trend under the current administration. Similar restrictions have been placed on transgender individuals serving in the military, drawing widespread criticism from civil rights organisations.

Opponents of the policy argue it lacks scientific grounding and could lead to invasive testing, disproportionately affecting women with natural genetic variations. Concerns have also been raised over the mental health implications for young transgender athletes and the growing politicisation of sport.

The National Women’s Law Center condemned the USOPC's decision, stating that it prioritises political pressure over athlete welfare.

While the IOC currently allows individual sports federations to determine eligibility, several high-profile federations—including swimming, cycling, and athletics—have already introduced restrictions based on male puberty.

The 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, to be hosted in Los Angeles, are expected to operate under this new framework unless international policy shifts before then.