US Olympics & Paralympics ban trans women from female sports

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has banned trans women from competing in the female category, a major blow to the participation of trans athletes in sports.

“The USOPC is committed to protecting opportunities for athletes participating in sport,” the USOPC said on its website, according to ABC News. “The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities, e.g., IOC, IPC, NGBs, to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act.”

The ban is the latest in a cascade or policy changes across women’s sports that stem largely from the results of the last election, as well as the executive order from the current Administration aiming to bar trans women from female sports.

The NCAA changed its policy in February, also banning trans women from female sports. Many leagues and national governing bodies have done the same since. USA Fencing was the latest to announce its ban after a hubbub around a woman refusing to compete against a trans athlete in fencing.

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“As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland and President Gene Sykes said in deflecting responsibility for the new policy, according to ESPN. “Our revised policy emphasizes the importance of ensuring fair and safe competition environments for women. All National Governing Bodies are required to update their applicable policies in alignment.”

This does not mean that trans athletes cannot compete. Nikki Hiltz is a trans nonbinary athlete who was born female and will continue to be allowed to compete in the female category. The policy affects athletes born male who are seeking to compete in women’s competitions.

Various world governing bodies have already banned trans women from the female category, most notably World Aquatics, which sought in part to prevent a trans athlete like former Penn swimmer Lia Thomas from competing at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Earlier this year, Thomas was stripped of her awards and records by the University of Pennsylvania after demands and a lawsuit from the current Administration.

The Supreme Court of the United States will be taking up the issue of trans athlete bans in an upcoming session. A SCOTUS ruling could have profound implications, including effects on the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

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