Latest news with #UnitedStatesOlympicandParalympicCommittee
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Transgender athletes in limbo as Olympic sports grapple with USOPC ban
American transgender women will no longer be able to compete in events that match their gender identity, as the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee aligned its policies on athlete eligibility to match the Trump administration's gender politics. Earlier this week the USOPC quietly updated its athlete safety policy, 'to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act.' In a letter reported by international media, USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirschland and board chair Gene Sykes justified the change by saying 'as a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations.' The letter went on to say that the USOPC would work with National Governing Bodies (NGBs) under its umbrella to hammer out details. Since taking office Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress have pushed a number of executive orders limiting transgender participation in public life. Examples include preventing transgender women from using bathrooms that match their gender identity in federally owned buildings, threatening to withdraw federal funding from hospitals that provide gender affirming healthcare for transgender children and barring transgender girls and women from playing on sports teams that match their identity in schools. Both California and Maine received threats from the Trump Administration over the potential to withhold federal funds unless transgender school sport inclusion policies were changed. Maine sued the administration after funds were withheld, settling out of court and not budging on changing its policies. Meanwhile, California's track and field state championships were mired in controversy after introducing a new policy that allowed transgender athletes to compete, but offered separate podium spots for cisgender athletes that were beaten by transgender athletes. The long-term ramifications of the USOPC's decision remain up in the air. The committee did not respond to multiple requests and a detailed list of questions from the Chronicle about which level of athletes will be affected, or how the new policy came to be. What levels this ban will apply to, however, have not been finalized, but will have an impact well beyond the U.S. national teams. As part of its mission to administer Olympic sports in the United States the USOPC oversees 50 Olympic NGBs and a variety of Paralympic NGBs. The USOPC's decision to change its athlete eligibility policy exposes a tough reality for the IOC, which oversees 206 different National Olympic Committees. The USOPC does not receive any federal funding, and as a private organization is not bound by federal policy. However, it does draw a significant amount of its athlete base from the NCAA and other school institutions. Navigating a political landscape where different countries have different laws and regulations regarding gender identity in sports is the IOC's new reality after it spent close to a decade reviewing its landmark 2016 policy that allowed athletes to compete in the Olympic Games without the need for gender confirmation surgery. Previously, transgender athletes were first allowed to compete in the Olympic Games at Athens 2004, but required surgery to be eligible. 'This is a highly complex topic which has been approached by International Federations and National Olympic Committees in different ways depending on their sport and their national legislation and context,' an IOC spokesperson said in a statement to the Chronicle. The body is now seeing NOCs and International Federations taking markedly different paths to implementing its 2021 'Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations.' That policy represented a marked shift for the IOC, delegating to international federations the responsibility to draft its own policies with regards to transgender, intersex and gender diverse athletes in their sports. Still, the policy called on federations to both respect people's gender identity and craft processes to draft policies that did not presume competitive advantages from transgender athletes. Kirsty Coventry became the first woman to lead the IOC after she was elected president in June of this year. The new President is a staunch ally of outgoing president Thomas Bach, who oversaw both the 2016 and 2021 transgender inclusion policies. The same month of her election the IOC held a workshop on the future of transgender inclusion in women's sport, which led to 'overwhelming support…for the proposal that the IOC should protect the female category.' 'It was agreed by the IOC Members that the IOC should take a leading role in this, and should bring together experts and the International Federations, in order to look for a consensus,' the spokesperson added. With the USOPC's decision to move in line with the Trump administration's political agenda and despite the lack of any federal laws banning transgender athletes, the new policy would not be considered government interference in a National Olympic Committee's affairs. If an NOC is found to have been influenced by a national government, the IOC could revoke its standing and bar athletes from competing under their national flag at the Olympic Games. In addition, the IOC has offered athletes with barred NOCs or other extenuating political circumstances the chance to compete in the Olympics as independent or neutral athletes. It remains to be seen if transfeminine athletes from the United States can compete if rules for the international federations which organize competitions have more liberal transgender inclusion policies. How those athletes would compete in the United States in events organized by international federations, and not the USOPC or relevant NGBs, such as the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games or other World Championships, also remains an open question. In the United States, some NGBs have attempted to begin answering some of these questions. At least one NGB, USA Fencing, changed its eligibility to reflect the updated policy from the USOPC. Other NGBs such as USA Track and Field and USA Swimming had previously updated their eligibility policies to be in line with their sports' international federations, which had placed strict requirements for participating transgender women – which many organizations have labeled de facto bans. USA Fencing on its website says that it updated its eligibility policy to bring 'fencing into compliance,' with the new USOPC guidance and will be effective on Aug. 1. Previously in April, USA Fencing put on its website a ' proactive ' update to its inclusion policy that would not go into effect unless directed by the USOPC or the International Fencing Federation (FIE), which came from a 'months‑long review,' starting in 2023 according to USA Fencing Director of Communications Bryan Wendell. 'The policy applies to all USA Fencing‑sanctioned domestic competitions and categories, including amateur, veteran/masters, and youth events. Mixed‑gender local events remain unchanged,' Wendell told the Chronicle, and that there was 'no formal directive' from the USfOPC about this policy. Transgender athletes competing at all levels told the Chronicle there remain a number of questions, such as whether all NGBs will extend this policy to include all competitions, including masters and amateur competition. '[This] ambiguity is abject cowardice meant to shield USOPC leadership from consequences while creating a policy vacuum that will almost certainly hurt everyone that isn't a cisgender man,' Kristen Aliberto, a transfeminine player for the New York Exiles of Women's Elite Rugby said. Without clarity, trans women have no idea where they will be able to compete in their sports going forward, if they are even able to, she added. Athlete Ally, an advocacy organization dedicated to promoting inclusion for LGBTQ athletes in all sports, called the USOPC 'another example of an institution giving up their authority and expertise to politicians" in a statement. 'This rule change is not in response to new research or new guidelines from medical experts in sports. Instead, it is the result of mounting political pressure and government hostility toward one of the smallest minorities in society, let alone sports.' The Ted Stevens Act from 1978 chartered the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Executive Order 14201 was signed by President Donald Trump after his second inauguration, titled 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports,' and threatened to revoke federal funding to schools and institutions that allow transgender women from competing in women's sports. The order did not discuss intersex or transgender male athletes, instead designating that the only athletes able to compete in 'women's' events were those assigned female at birth by a doctor. Almost immediately, the NCAA announced it would comply with the executive order and updated its athlete eligibility policy, a change that affected 'less than 10' student-athletes among more than 500,000 playing college sports in the U.S. For U.S. transfeminine athletes, Olympic dreams appear to have been shattered, with little recourse for how this conflicting set of rules aligns with the current patchwork international sport system. And for amateur athletes, there will be questions about how far NGBs go in banning transfeminine athletes in masters and youth events not organized in school settings. Legal challenges in both the U.S. court system and the Court of Arbitration for Sport remain possibilities.
See - Sada Elbalad
6 days ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Bans Trans Women from Women's Olympic Events
Israa Farhan The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has introduced a revised Athlete Safety Policy that effectively bars transgender women from participating in women's events at the Olympics. This update comes in direct alignment with Executive Order 14201, signed earlier this year by President Donald Trump. The policy change, which does not explicitly use the term transgender, introduces new criteria under a section titled 'Additional Requirements.' It states that the USOPC will work with relevant bodies to ensure a fair and safe environment for women's competitions in accordance with federal mandates. USOPC President Gene Sykes and CEO Sarah Hirshland detailed the changes in a letter addressed to the national Olympic community. The correspondence, circulated by major outlets such as ESPN and the Washington Post, emphasized the committee's responsibility to comply with federal expectations and reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to women's sports integrity. As part of the update, all national governing bodies must revise their own policies to match the new federal-aligned standards. This decision mirrors similar recent moves, including changes by the NCAA, which now restricts women's sports participation to athletes assigned female at birth. Executive Order 14201, titled 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports,' threatens institutions that allow transgender athletes to compete in women's categories with loss of federal funding. It also instructs the US Secretary of State to press the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to amend its rules for Olympic events, citing fairness and safety for female athletes. This is part of a broader trend under the current administration. Similar restrictions have been placed on transgender individuals serving in the military, drawing widespread criticism from civil rights organisations. Opponents of the policy argue it lacks scientific grounding and could lead to invasive testing, disproportionately affecting women with natural genetic variations. Concerns have also been raised over the mental health implications for young transgender athletes and the growing politicisation of sport. The National Women's Law Center condemned the USOPC's decision, stating that it prioritises political pressure over athlete welfare. While the IOC currently allows individual sports federations to determine eligibility, several high-profile federations—including swimming, cycling, and athletics—have already introduced restrictions based on male puberty. The 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, to be hosted in Los Angeles, are expected to operate under this new framework unless international policy shifts before then. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
DW
6 days ago
- Politics
- DW
US Olympic committee bans trans women from women's events – DW – 07/23/2025
American transgender women will no longer be able to compete in women's events at the Olympics and Paralympics. The US committee updated its policy to align with executive orders made by U.S. President Donald Trump. The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) have published an updated "Athlete Safety Policy." The new version is to align with an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year. The update effectively bans transgender women from competing in women's sports in the Olympics. In the 27-page document with the updated "Athlete Safety Policy," the USOPC does not mention the word "transgender." However, in a new subsection titled "Additional Requirements," it states that "The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities" to ensure that "women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201." On Tuesday, USOPC president Gene Sykes and chief executive officer Sarah Hirshland sent a letter to the US Olympic community, explaining the policy change. "As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations," they wrote as reported by US media outlets including and the . "Our revised policy emphasizes the importance of ensuring fair and safe competition environments for women." The letter also said that national governing bodies will have to "update their applicable policies in alignment." The USOPC's change follows a similar one at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) earlier this year. The NCAA changed its policy a day after Trump's executive order. It now limits competitors in women's sports to athletes assigned female at birth. In February this year, Trump signed executive order 14201, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports." This order means that if schools or institutions allow transgender athletes to compete in teams that do not match the sex they were assigned at birth, they could face the withdrawal of federal funding. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also tasked with getting the International Olympic Committee to change the "the standards governing Olympic sporting events to promote fairness, safety, and the best interests of female athletes" by using "all appropriate and available measures." The executive order is similar to other measures introduced by the Trump administration. Earlier this year, they also restricted transgender people from serving in the US military. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Critics of the executive order argue that there is little evidence of transgender athletes dominating women's sports on a larger scale. Opponents also warn these orders will not create fair solutions in sport and are instead likely to deepen political polarization. There are also concerns for the mental health of young transgender athletes, should they be excluded from sport. This comes alongside worries that women with chromosome abnormalities could also be targeted by unscientific "genetic tests", and that it puts athletes under scrunity not applied to their male counterparts. The National Women's Law Center condemned the move, "By giving into the political demands, the USOPC is sacrificing the needs and safety of its own athletes," said the organization's president and CEO, Fatima Goss Graves in a statement. In several states across the USA, laws bar transgender women and girls from participating in certain competitions. Some of these policies have been blocked in court after critics challenged the policies as discriminatory and cruel. The president of International Olympics Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry, has previously stated an effort to "protect the female category." Trump has said he wants the IOC to change everything "having to do with this absolutely ridiculous subject." So far, the IOC allows individual sports federations to set their own rules at the Olympics. In swimming, cycling, and track and field, stricter rules on transgender athletes have already been passed, with athletes who went through male puberty banned from women's events. The next Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games are to be held in Los Angeles in 2028. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
US Olympic and Paralympic teams will comply with Trump executive order banning transgender and non-binary athletes from women's sports
The committee overseeing the United States' participation in the Olympics and Paralympics has confirmed it will comply with an executive order signed by President Trump banning transgender and non-binary people from competing in women's sports. The order was signed at the start of his second term and mandates sporting bodies across the United States to exclude transgender women and non-binary athletes from competing alongside women. In a letter to US sporting associations, The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said they were obligated to follow the executive order. CEO Sarah Hirshland and USOPC President Gene Skyes said, 'Our revised policy emphasizes the importance of ensuring fair and safe competition environments for women. 'All National Governing Bodies are required to update their applicable policies in alignment." The National Women's Law Center issued a statement condemning the move. "By giving into the political demands, the USOPC is sacrificing the needs and safety of its own athletes," said president and CEO, Fatima Goss Graves. A USA Swimming spokesman said the federation had been made aware of the USOPC's change and was consulting with the committee to figure out what changes it needs to make. USA Fencing changed its policy effective Aug. 1 to allow only "athletes who are of the female sex" in women's competition and opening men's events to "all athletes not eligible for the women's category, including transgender women, transgender men, non-binary and intersex athletes and cisgender male athletes." Other associations are being consulted with to determine what changes need to be made. The move came after President Trump sued the state of Michigan after it refused to comply with the Executive Order, and Mr Trump has also expressed he would like the IOC to change its rules on transgender athletes. Los Angeles will host the Summer Games in 2028.
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
US Olympic and Paralympic Committee to comply with Trump's order and bar trans women
Transgender athletes will no longer represent Team USA at the Olympics and Paralympics after its governing body announced it would comply with an executive order by US President Donald Trump. The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee updated its policies on Wednesday, directly citing the President's 'Keeping Men out of Women's Sports' order he signed in February. President Trump has threatened to pull government funding from individual sport associations that don't comply.
