The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has clarified that no final decision has been made regarding the introduction of a blanket ban on transgender women competing in female categories across all sports.

 

The clarification follows reports in The Times suggesting that the IOC was preparing to announce the ban as early as next year.

 

In a statement to the BBC, the IOC said, “The working group is continuing its discussions on this topic and no decisions have been taken yet.”

 

Despite the official position, several insiders suggest the move is still highly likely to be implemented in the near future. According to reports, the IOC’s medical and scientific director presented an update to members last week, outlining the progress and implications of such a policy.

 

IOC president Kirsty Coventry, who previously pledged to address the issue during her election campaign, has stated that the organisation must “play a leading role” in shaping fair and inclusive policies for international sports.

 

“We have a working group composed of experts and international federations to ensure that we find consensus,” Coventry said earlier this year.

 

The ongoing discussions come amid global debates over fairness, inclusion, and biological advantage in women’s sports.

 

In February, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting transgender women from competing in female categories — a decision that, he said, would extend to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Trump also stated that his administration would deny visas to transgender athletes seeking to compete in U.S.-hosted events under those categories.

 

The IOC’s final decision on the matter is expected to shape the future of gender inclusion in global sports, with significant implications for athletes, federations, and upcoming Olympic Games.