On March 26, 2026, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned trans women from participating in the female division of the Olympics. Before the finalization of this new rule, the committee had already been discussing how to divide the female division in Olympic sports by making clear distinctions between biologically born females and transitioned females They concluded that, because of scientifically proven advantages in biologically male athletes, it would be unfair and unsafe to permit them to participate. Specifically, the IOC cited close games and high stakes as the reason for their decision.
As part of Olympic regulations, athletes have been required to complete testing to see if they are eligible for the female division. This process usually includes genetic testing, such as cheek swabs or blood samples. The results are used to check for the sex-determining region Y gene, which is typically found in biological males. If the athlete has this gene, they are not allowed to compete in the female division, but if they don’t, they are allowed to participate. James Smirk, one of the head coaches of the track and field team, emphasized the credibility issues of the IOC in itself. Smirk referenced previous Olympic controversies to question the IOC’s consistency and fairness in its decisions over the years.
“We can go all the way back to East Germany, [where athletes were] so heavily doping that the female athletes actually had higher registered testosterone than the highest natural male testosterone ever recorded. [However, the] Olympic Committee did nothing about [it],” said Smirk.
The East German doping scandal was an event where female athletes were given performance-enhancing drugs, synthetic versions of hormones, by their coaches. This leads to an increase in muscle mass, strength and speed, and a raise in testosterone levels in the body. One such drug given was Oral-Turinabol, which was used specifically to enhance strength and endurance. From 1960 to 1989 22 national records were set by these athletes who used drugs.
For Smirk, that raises larger questions about how much science versus outside factors actually influences the decisions the IOC makes.
“I think one of the big things to understand is that when we talk about things like athletics, it’s very easy to sit here … and say, the science, the science, the science. But athletics are [also a] cultural phenomena,” said Smirk. “If you go back to other cultures that engaged in competitive athletics, transgender identity was not [considered] an issue. This is more of a cultural issue than it is necessarily a biological issue, and [it depends on] how culturally we define what fair competition represents.”
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, notable differences between biological males and females appear at the age of puberty, around 12 years old. These differences are due to the anabolic effects of testosterone in males. During puberty, male testosterone levels multiply by 20 to 30 times, 15 times higher than in females at the age of 18.
Mary Pat Lelinski, head coach of the girls basketball team, explained that while men generally have more physical strength, each case should be considered individually, and if there are no big advantages, they should be allowed to compete.
Furthermore, she spoke about how physical differences between biological men and women often come into play, especially in a contact sport such as basketball.
“Going case by case, if there’s an obvious advantage to [allowing a trans athlete to participate], then they can’t participate because it would create a safety issue in a lot of sports,” said Lelinski.
Greta Knierem ’27, an athlete on the girls varsity basketball team, who has been coached by Lelinski, shared a similar perspective, from an athlete’s point of view.
“It should definitely depend on the case. It’s just so hard [to judge] depending on how skilled the person may be at the sport and just how much of a disadvantage it could mean to the other opponents in the activity or the sport,” said Knierem. “I don’t think that they could even [make] a rule on [transgender athletes competing in the women’s division since] everyone has different types of skills [and] everyone contributes to their sport differently.”
Specific cases of transgender women competing in the Olympics include Laurel Hubbard, a transgender weightlifter from New Zealand who competed in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. Her participation brought a lot of attention to how transgender athletes fit into women’s sports because it raised questions about fairness, eligibility rules, and whether current Olympic policies can equally balance inclusion and competitive advantage. Cases like this have contributed to ongoing discussions within the IOC. Only after collecting years of data did the IOC decide to impose the ban.
Brian Dzbenski, Princeton High School’s Drector of Athletics, explained that decisions about transgender athletes in sports often involve multiple factors, especially when it comes to competition and student well being.
“You want to use science and utilize the facts … men have higher levels of testosterone [which] … builds more muscle,” said Dzebinski. “When it comes down to the health and safety of students … that’s definitely a great concern.”
He added that while separation may make sense in some situations, applying one clear rule across all sports and athletes is much more difficult in practice.
The IOC’s decision reflects an ongoing debate with no easy answer. While some believe the rule protects the fairness and safety in the Olympics, others argue that it oversimplifies a complex issue and does not account for individual differences. As sports continue to evolve, the challenge will be finding a balance that respects both inclusions and fair competition.