Trump Urges IOC to Ban Transgender Athletes

President Donald Trump is intensifying his push against transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to revise its rules before the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. During the signing of an executive order on Wednesday, Trump stated that he wants the IOC to “change everything regarding the Olympics and this absolutely ridiculous subject.”

An Executive Order Redefining Female Athlete Eligibility

The executive order grants the Secretary of State the authority to pressure the IOC into modifying the eligibility criteria for women’s competitions, basing participation on biological sex rather than gender identity or testosterone reduction. The stated goal is to ensure “fairness, safety, and the best interests of female athletes.”

Impact on Athlete Entry into the U.S.

Additionally, the order directs the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security to review and potentially adjust policies regarding the admission of male athletes seeking to compete in women’s sports in the U.S. However, there is no evidence that male athletes have participated in women’s Olympic events.

Reactions and the IOC’s Position

Current IOC President Thomas Bach stated in December that the organization was “very confident” it could work with the Trump administration. Trump had initially supported Los Angeles’ bid for the 2024 Games, which were ultimately awarded to Paris.

The LA28 organizing committee has yet to respond to inquiries on the matter. However, its chairman, Casey Wasserman, reportedly met with Trump in Florida last month, later stating that both were committed to delivering a successful Olympic Games.

Toward a Unified Policy on Transgender Athletes?

So far, the IOC has refrained from enforcing a universal policy on transgender athlete participation, allowing individual international sports federations to set their own rules. As a result, regulations vary significantly: World Aquatics imposes strict restrictions, while World Triathlon takes a more lenient approach.

This stance could shift with Bach’s departure. One of the candidates to succeed him is Sebastian Coe, former track star and current president of World Athletics, who has been vocal about restricting female sports participation to cisgender women.

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Ongoing Controversy and Debate

In 2022, World Athletics under Coe banned transgender athletes from international women’s competitions, aligning with swimming’s regulations. Additionally, some athletes must now undergo hormone-suppressing treatment for six months before being eligible to compete.

The debate escalated during the Paris 2024 Olympics, with Trump fueling the controversy by falsely claiming that two female Olympic boxers were men. However, Imane Khelif (Algeria) and Li Yu-ting (Taiwan) were assigned female at birth and identify as women.

How Much Influence Can the U.S. Exert on the IOC?

By signing this executive order, the Trump administration aims to rally international support for a standardized IOC policy. The extent of U.S. influence on this matter remains uncertain, but the move could encourage global sports federations to adopt stricter regulations.