In a major policy shift, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has announced a ban on transgender women competing in women’s events at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, citing compliance with a recent federal directive issued by President Donald Trump.
The new rule, effective July 21, 2025, is part of an update to the USOPC’s Athlete Safety Policy, under a new subsection titled “Additional Requirements.” The update references both Trump’s executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act.
“The USOPC is committed to protecting opportunities for athletes participating in sport,” the revised policy states. “We will continue working with our partners to ensure women have a fair and safe competition environment in line with Executive Order 14201.”
In a memo to Team USA athletes, USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland and President Gene Sykes wrote, “As a federally chartered organization, we are obligated to comply with federal expectations.”
President Trump’s order, signed in February 2025, mandates strict sex-based eligibility for girls’ and women’s sports teams at all levels of education and competition. The order also ties compliance to federal funding, warning that schools or institutions allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports risk losing financial support.
The USOPC’s decision follows closely on the heels of similar restrictions adopted by the NCAA, which now limits women’s competitions to athletes assigned female at birth.
“As we prepare for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics, our revised policy underscores the importance of fair and equitable competition,” the USOPC added in its communication to national governing bodies. Member organizations have been encouraged to align their own policies accordingly.
The move has sparked national debate, with supporters arguing it preserves fairness in women’s sports, while critics have condemned it as discriminatory and harmful to transgender athletes.
