Following the new IOC policy, here is the response of Muli Epstein, the scientific director of the Israeli Olympic Committee:
Until now, each international federation set its own policy regarding the participation of transgender women in women’s competitions.
Now a uniform standard has been established that applies to all, according to which eligibility to compete in the women’s category will be determined based on biological sex thru the SRY gene test.
Scientifically, male development has a significant impact on strength, speed, and endurance (due to higher testosterone levels in men), and therefore clear criteria are required to maintain fairness and safety. It is likely that the policy will be updated in accordance with further research and the differences between sports disciplines.
