France calls IOC sex testing a ‘step backwards’ while Trump praises move

Al Jazeera
March 27, 2026
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3 min read

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The IOC banned transgender women athletes from female Olympic events; France opposes the move while Trump praises it.

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The International Olympic Committee has adopted new sex-testing eligibility rules that exclude transgender women from female Olympic events, a policy shift that has drawn sharply divergent reactions from world leaders. France's government has criticized the IOC move as a "step backwards," while President Trump has publicly praised the decision. The new eligibility policy represents a significant tightening of transgender athlete participation rules at the Olympics, reversing the IOC's previous approach of deferring such decisions to individual sports federations. The dispute reflects the broader global debate over transgender inclusion in sports, with the issue now intersecting with international diplomacy ahead of upcoming Olympic Games. The policy change will directly affect which athletes are permitted to compete in women's categories at future Olympics.

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