“As a former athlete, I firmly believe in the right of all Olympic athletes to participate in fair competition. The policy we announced is based on science and has been developed by medical experts. In the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can make the difference between victory and defeat. Therefore, it's absolutely clear that it wouldn't be fair for biological men to compete in the female category. Also, in some sports, it just wouldn't be safe,” Coventry said.
The IOC argued that the measure seeks to "guarantee fairness, safety and integrity in competition “, based on scientific studies reviewed between 2024 and 2026. In that analysis, the agency concluded that male sex implies performance advantages in disciplines that depend on strength, power and endurance, so that "to ensure fairness and protect safety, especially in contact sports, eligibility must be based on biological sex
”.It should be clarified that the new regulations will not be retroactive and will not affect amateur or grassroots sports. With this resolution, the IOC establishes a global position on an issue that has generated controversy in recent years and redefines the conditions of access to the highest stage of
world sport.