US Olympic and Paralypmic Committee bars men from playing women's sports

The US Olympic Committee and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) made an about face this week and said that only women would be permitted to compete in women's Olympic athletics. The previous policy left eligibility up to individual sports federations, some of which contained exceptions for males who met certain testosterone requirements.

The US Summer Olympics are set for Los Angeles in 2028. Five new sports will be included in the games, including cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash, while baseball/softball makes a return to the games.

The new policy states "The USOPC is committed to protecting opportunities for athletes participating in sport. The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities, e.g., IOC, IPC, NGBs, to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act, 36 U.S.C §22501, et. seq."

The USOPC confirmed the change on Tuesday. The statement read that the committee had held "a series of respectful and constructive conversations with federal officials" and that "As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations."

President Donald Trump has been vocal since his presidential campaign about the unfairness of allowing men to compete in women's sports.
 

He signed an order called "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" that reversed the Biden administration's reinterpretation of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act to include gender identity as a protected class. Biden's reinterpretation was also done by executive order, one which demanded that every federal agency within the federal government figure out (within 180 days of the signing) how they can be more trans inclusive.

Trump's order banned males who claim to be females from playing in women's sports across the country. It instructed the Department of Education, under whose jurisdiction academics and athletics fall, to "take all appropriate action to affirmatively protect all-female athletic opportunities and all-female locker rooms and thereby provide equal opportunity guaranteed by Title IX..."

Title IX, added as an amendment in 1972, was reinterpreted by Biden's Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, who forced schools to allow men to use women's restroom and locker room facilities. The backlash against their attempt to force schools to allow men to compete on women's athletic teams was severe, with parents, educators, athletes, and activists speaking out against the unfairness. 

Recent Olympic games have seen men take opportunities from women. Male Laurel Hubbard represented New Zealand as he competed in women's weightlifting. He lost at the Olympic level, but female competitors at home never got the chance to try because he was elevated ahead of them.

Imane Khelif competed in women's wrestling for Algeria, though Khelif is male. After that was revealed, he was asked to return the medals he won on behalf of his country. Khelif is not transgender, but suffers from a disorder that gives him some female characteristics. 

Women who identify as transgender or non-binary typically remain competitors in women's contests. Both Canada and the United States have sent women who identify as trans or non-binary to the Olympic games to compete on women's teams.

Trump said in February that any and all visas for trans athletes seeking to compete as women at the US Olympic Games would be denied. California and a few other states have taken up suit against the Trump administration over the change. They prefer to allow boys to compete unfairly against girls in athletic contests.
 

USOPC Athlete Safety Policy by The Post Millennial on Scribd