Senators Push for New Criteria in Women’s Olympics Participation Standards

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Republican lawmakers urge the International Olympic Committee to enforce biological sex standards in women’s events, citing Trump’s recent executive order ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Key Takeaways

26 Republican senators and representatives have signed a letter demanding the IOC base women’s competition eligibility on biological sex.
The letter references President Trump’s February 5 executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”.
Republicans argue that allowing biological males in women’s categories undermines competitive opportunities, safety, and respect for female athletes.
The request comes ahead of the IOC’s March 17 meeting and planning for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Current IOC policy gives global federations autonomy to set their own eligibility rules for transgender athletes.

GOP Lawmakers Target IOC Policy Before 2028 LA Olympics

A coalition of 26 Republican lawmakers, led by Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) and Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), has sent a formal letter to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach demanding stricter adherence to biological sex standards in women’s Olympic competitions. The letter, which includes signatures from prominent GOP senators and representatives like Marsha Blackburn, Mike Crapo, and Jim Banks, calls for the IOC to align with President Trump’s recent executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” prohibiting biological males from competing in women’s sports categories during the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

THANK YOU: "The Olympic Games should be a model for integrity in sports, and the next IOC president must firmly defend the rights of dedicated female athletes."

U.S. Legislators sent a letter to IOC President Bach urging the Olympics Committee to protect women's sports. Read… pic.twitter.com/c3hFTDIgxy

— Independent Women's Voice (@IWV) March 12, 2025

The lawmakers specifically targeted the IOC’s current framework, which was updated in 2021 to focus on gender equality and inclusion, replacing a 2015 policy that had specific requirements regarding gender identity and testosterone levels. The new guidelines give individual sport federations more autonomy to establish their own eligibility requirements, which Republicans argue has created inconsistency and undermined competitive fairness for female athletes.

Trump’s Executive Order and Olympic Implementation

The order directs Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to enforce measures preventing athletes who identify as women but are biologically male from entering the United States to compete in the Los Angeles Olympics. This represents a significant shift in federal policy that the lawmakers want reflected in international sports governance.

The request comes as part of a broader Republican legislative push on transgender issues in sports. The House recently passed a bill banning transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports teams in K-12 schools, demonstrating the party’s commitment to addressing what they view as competitive fairness issues across all levels of athletics. The timing is strategic, coming just before the IOC’s March 17 meeting which includes the election of a new president and preparations for the Los Angeles Olympics.

Previous Olympic Controversies Fuel Current Debate

Republicans pointed to controversies from the 2024 Paris Olympics to strengthen their argument. They specifically referenced the case of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who was disqualified from a world championship due to having XY chromosomes but was later allowed to compete in the Olympics under IOC guidelines that focus on testosterone levels rather than chromosomal makeup. Such incidents have intensified the debate over biological advantages and competitive fairness in women’s sports.

The Olympics have allowed transgender athletes to compete since 2004, though the first openly transgender athlete didn’t participate until 2021. Currently, the standards vary by sport, with some international federations establishing stricter rules than others. The IOC’s 2021 framework recommends policies based on inclusion and non-discrimination, while acknowledging the need for competitive fairness, although Republicans argue this approach lacks consistency and clear biological standards.

American Olympic Legacy and National Values

The Republican lawmakers emphasized America’s Olympic legacy in their appeal to the IOC, however, they stressed that clear biological standards must be established to protect the integrity of women’s competitions and honor female athletes in accordance with what they describe as American values and competitive principles.

The IOC has not yet issued a formal response to the lawmakers’ demands. As the governing body prepares for its March 17th meeting and the selection of new leadership, the pressure from American politicians adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing international debate about gender, biology, and competitive fairness in elite sports. The outcome could significantly impact how transgender and intersex athletes participate in future Olympic Games, especially those held on American soil.