Olympics urged to drop reported gender test plans for female athletes

Over 80 human rights and sports groups are urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reject reported plans for universal genetic sex testing of female athletes and a blanket ban on transgender and intersex competitors. The groups, including the Sport & Rights Alliance, issued a joint statement in March 2026 warning that these measures would hinder gender equity in sports. While the IOC has not confirmed the recommendations from its Protection of the Female Category Working Group, sources suggest the group advised mandatory genetic testing for all female athletes and barring transgender and intersex athletes from women's events. The IOC discontinued universal sex testing after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and previously instructed federations to create their own guidelines on transgender participation in 2021. Advocates argue that sex testing and blanket bans would harm all women and girls and undermine fairness in sports.

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