Olympics to ban all men from women’s sports ahead of LA games

Current rules leave decisions on whether trans-identified males can compete in the women’s division up to each individual sport, however, the IOC under new president Kirsty Coventry is reportedly in discussions about changing this policy, per the Daily Mail.

Olympic sources told the outlet that the measure is the "direction of travel" and could be announced in the new year, however, it is unlikely it would be in place before the upcoming Winter Olympics set to take place in Italy in February. Insiders estimate that it could take between six months and a year for the rule change to be approved and cleared.

The IOC said in a statement to the Daily Mail, "An update was given by the IOC’s director of health, medicine and science to the IOC Members last week during the IOC commission meetings. The working group is continuing its discussions on this topic and no decisions have been taken yet."

During the referenced meeting, IOC medical, health, and science director Dr. Jane Thornton gave a presentation that included a science-based review regarding transgender and disorders of sexual development issues. The presentation stressed the differences between trans-identified males and athletes with disorders of sexual development who now compete in the women’s division.

Sources told The Times that Thornton’s presentation showed scientific evidence showing the physical advantages biological males have over women in athletics. One source said, "It was a very scientific, factual and unemotional presentation which quite clearly laid out the evidence." Another said that there had been positive feedback from IOC members regarding the presentation.