IOC's 'heartbreaking' return to gene testing slammed by trans, intersex athletes

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reinstated genetic testing for female athletes, mandating SRY gene testing to determine eligibility for women’s events beginning with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Athletes who test positive—including transgender women and those with differences in sex development—will be barred from competing. The policy reverses a decades-old abandonment of such testing and has drawn sharp criticism from trans and intersex athletes, who argue it prioritizes exclusion over fairness and safety. Veronica Ivy, a transgender cyclist and two-time world champion, called the decision 'heartbreaking' and accused the IOC of weaponizing sports to marginalize trans athletes. Ivy, who retired in 2023 after cycling’s governing body excluded her, warned the policy will harm women by subjecting them to invasive, historically abusive sex verification processes. 'This isn’t protecting the female category,' she said. 'It’s only going to harm women and girls.' The IOC justified the move by citing 'athlete feedback' and a 'strong consensus' that science-based rules are needed to protect the female category, though it has not disclosed how many athletes were consulted or the specifics of their input. Patricio Manuel, a transgender boxer, condemned the policy as a step backward, stating that sports should remain inclusive rather than used to segregate trans women. 'They are weaponizing sports to further exclude us from society,' Manuel said. Critics, including Chris Mosier, a transgender triathlete and advocate for inclusive policies, dismissed the IOC’s claim as politically motivated. Mosier, who helped push for the end of mandatory gender reassignment surgery for trans athletes, called the policy 'bulls---' and noted that very few trans women compete in women’s sports. 'This is a solution in search of a problem,' he said, emphasizing that the focus should be on lived experiences rather than hypothetical concerns. The IOC has declined to provide further details, instead directing inquiries to an FAQ on its website. Trans and intersex athletes interviewed by USA TODAY expressed skepticism that the policy reflects the priorities of female athletes, who they believe would oppose invasive testing. Ivy highlighted the history of sexual abuse tied to past sex-testing practices, questioning whether the IOC truly cares about women’s safety or simply seeks to exclude vulnerable groups. Laurel Hubbard, the only openly transgender woman to compete in the Olympics, placed last in her Tokyo 2021 event, underscoring the rarity of trans women in elite female sports. Mosier’s advocacy a decade ago removed the requirement for trans athletes to undergo surgery, a shift now reversed by the IOC’s new policy. Athletes and advocates alike view the decision as a retreat from progress, prioritizing exclusion over the inclusion and dignity of marginalized competitors.