The International Olympic Committee officially announced on Thursday a new policy aimed at ensuring that only biological female athletes will be eligible to compete in women's events at future editions of the Summer and Winter Games.

This decision means all athletes entering female categories must undergo a one-time SRY gene screening test, which the IOC described as a reliable indicator of male sex development. The move is intended to establish a unified standard across Olympic sports after years of inconsistent rules and multiple eligibility controversies.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said that at the elite level, even the smallest margins matter, while adding that allowing biological males to compete in women's events would be unfair and, in some cases, unsafe.

The new policy marks a shift from the IOC's 2021 framework, which left decisions to individual federations. The change will not be applied retroactively and does not affect amateur or grassroots sports.