IOC Set to Introduce Mandatory Sex Testing for Women’s Events at LA28 Olympics
The International Olympic Committee confirmed on Thursday that mandatory biological sex testing for women’s events will be introduced at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, a decision that is already generating major discussion across the global sports community.
The announcement came during an IOC press conference focused on the organization’s “Fit for Future” initiative, a long-term project aimed at reshaping the Olympic movement and strengthening protections for women’s competition.
The issue has become one of the most debated topics in international sport over the last two years, especially following the controversy surrounding women’s boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Questions over athlete eligibility created pressure on the IOC to deliver a clearer and more unified policy for future Games.
New IOC president Kirsty Coventry has made the female category one of her key priorities since taking office. Coventry, the first woman to lead the Olympic body, repeatedly spoke during her campaign about the need to balance fairness, inclusion, and scientific standards in women’s sport.
Under the new regulations, athletes competing in women’s events at LA28 will undergo a one-time Sex Determining Region Y (SRY) gene test. IOC officials clarified that the policy will apply during the Olympic Games themselves and not during qualification tournaments leading up to Los Angeles.
IOC Sports Director Pierre Ducrey said international federations will still have the authority to decide whether they want to introduce similar testing during qualifying events in their own sports.
The IOC also revealed that national Olympic committees have generally reacted positively to the updated policy, although some countries have requested additional clarification due to legal and medical regulations surrounding genetic testing.
Several nations, including France and Australia, could face legal complications in implementing the screening process. The IOC previously suggested that athletes from countries unable to carry out the testing domestically may travel abroad to complete the procedure.
Further details are expected to be shared during a webinar with national Olympic committees scheduled for June.
With the countdown to LA28 already underway, the IOC’s latest move signals a major shift in Olympic eligibility policy and is likely to remain one of the biggest conversations in world sport over the coming years.
