Transgender Women Banned From Women’s Events Under New US Olympic Rules

Transgender women in the United States will no longer be allowed to compete in women’s events at the Olympics and Paralympics under new guidelines issued by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

The change, effective July 21, 2025, is reflected in an update to the USOPC Athlete Safety Policy, posted on the organization’s website. The update follows President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”, issued in February 2025.

The revised policy introduces a new “Additional Requirements” section, stating: “The USOPC is committed to protecting opportunities for athletes participating in sport… to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act.”

The Ted Stevens Act, enacted in 1988, governs athlete eligibility and dispute resolution for Olympic and amateur sports in the U.S.

A memo to Team USA athletes, signed by USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland and President Gene Sykes, emphasized the organization’s legal obligation to follow federal directives.

“As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations,” the memo read, referencing the Trump administration’s order.

The executive order threatens to withhold federal funding from schools and institutions that allow transgender girls or women to compete in female sports divisions, arguing that such participation violates Title IX, the federal law guaranteeing equal sports opportunities for women. The order also mandates enforcement of single-sex sports teams and locker rooms.

In a letter to national governing bodies, the USOPC reiterated its new stance: “Our revised policy emphasizes the importance of ensuring fair and safe competition environments for women,” the message said. All affiliated organizations are required to update their rules accordingly.

According to ESPN, USOPC officials stated they had held “respectful and constructive conversations” with federal authorities regarding the executive order before implementing the policy shift.

The policy change comes as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.

In a related move, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) also updated its own rules to restrict women’s sports participation to athletes assigned female at birth, aligning with the federal directive.