Kirsty Coventry, the newly elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has announced plans to collaborate with President Donald Trump on “the transgender issue” ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Trump’s recent executive order banning trans female athletes from competing in women’s sports explicitly pressures the IOC to follow suit. Coventry confirmed that the IOC will form a task force to review trans-athlete participation, stating:
“We’re going to create a task force that’s going to look at the transgender issue and the protection of the female category. Once we’ve made the decision collectively as the IOC, with the international federations, that decision will be made very clear, and we won’t move from that decision.”
Trump’s Anti-Trans Sports Policies
Trump’s executive order, signed in early February, calls on international sports governing bodies and foreign governments to implement similar bans on trans women athletes. While signing the order, he falsely claimed that a “male boxer” won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics after “brutalizing” a female opponent.
The boxer in question, Imane Khelif of Algeria, is a cisgender woman who was wrongly rumoured to be trans during the 2024 Olympics. The IOC investigated her case and confirmed her eligibility to compete. The claim originated from the Russian-owned International Boxing Association (IBA), which has since been decertified as the sport’s governing body.
Beyond sports, Trump’s executive order also directs Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to deny visas to trans women athletes attempting to compete in the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has threatened to permanently ban any foreign trans athlete who enters the U.S. under a 1952 law against fraudulent identity claims. This means any trans athlete competing in the 2028 Olympics or other U.S.-based competitions could risk deportation or a permanent travel ban, even if their home country legally recognizes their gender.
IOC’s Changing Position on Trans Athletes
Currently, the IOC allows trans and nonbinary athletes to compete under eligibility criteria set by the governing bodies of individual sports. These policies often include hormone level regulations or a requirement that athletes have maintained their gender identity for a set number of years before competing.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, three openly trans or nonbinary athletes competed under these guidelines. However, Trump’s pressure campaign may push the IOC toward adopting a blanket ban. Coventry acknowledged that working with Trump on this issue will require “communication” but did not confirm what changes the IOC may consider.
NCAA Already Bowing to Trump’s Demands
Following Trump’s executive order, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) quickly banned all trans women from women’s sports without consulting its own medical experts.
Previously, the NCAA followed the same model as the IOC, allowing trans participation based on criteria set by each sport’s governing body. Under the new policy, trans men may still compete if their sport permits it, but trans women are completely excluded.
The NCAA’s decision likely aimed to preempt legal action, as Trump’s order threatens to prosecute schools that allow trans women to compete or use women’s restrooms and locker rooms.
Although the NCAA oversees 1,100 colleges and over 530,000 student-athletes, estimates suggest only about 10 trans athletes currently compete—less than 0.002% of all NCAA athletes nationwide.
What’s Next for Trans Athletes?
With the NCAA already enforcing Trump’s policy, all eyes are on the IOC as it deliberates its next move. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups warn that Trump’s executive order, combined with growing international pressure, could reverse years of progress toward trans inclusion in elite sports.
The final decision will likely determine whether trans athletes have any chance of competing in the 2028 Olympics—or whether Trump’s influence will reshape international sports policy for years to come.
