The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) on Monday announced a new policy that bars transgender women from participating in women’s sports, following a recent executive order issued by former President Donald Trump.
The policy instructs all national sport governing bodies under the USOPC, including those overseeing swimming, athletics, and other Olympic disciplines, to enforce the rule across all levels of competition.
USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said the organization has an obligation to comply with the executive order, which mandates restrictions intended to preserve what the order describes as fair competition in women’s sports.
The updated policy limits eligibility in women’s sports to athletes assigned female at birth. The USOPC directed its member organizations to implement and enforce this requirement in both Olympic and Paralympic programs.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) also updated its policies in alignment with the USOPC’s directive. NCAA officials confirmed that the revised guidelines reflect the same standard on eligibility for women’s sports.
The policy change applies nationwide and affects a wide range of sports organizations and programs. The new rules impact the eligibility of transgender women athletes aiming to participate in upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.