SPORTS
IOC Bars Transgender Athletes from Women’s Olympic Events
The International Olympic Committee has announced a new policy limiting eligibility for the female category at Olympic events to biological females, with the rule to take effect from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The decision followed approval by the IOC Executive Board, which said the policy on the protection of the female category would apply to all disciplines on the Olympic programme from LA28 onwards and would not be retroactive.
In the statement announcing the decision on Thursday, the IOC said, “For all disciplines on the sports programme of an IOC event, including the Olympic Games and for both individual and team sports, eligibility for any female category is limited to biological females.
”The committee added that eligibility would be determined through screening for the SRY gene, which it described as a reliable indicator of male sex development.
According to the statement, “Eligibility for the female category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY gene.”
The IOC explained that the presence of the gene, usually found on the Y chromosome, is considered fixed throughout life and provides highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced male sex development.
It stated, “Based on scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the presence of the SRY gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced male sex development.”
The body noted that screening could be carried out through saliva, cheek swab or blood sample, describing the process as less intrusive than other possible methods.
The policy provides that athletes who test negative for the gene will permanently satisfy the eligibility criteria for the female category, with testing expected to be conducted only once.
The statement read, “Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the female category… this will be a once-in-a-lifetime test.”
The IOC added that, except in rare cases involving athletes diagnosed with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome or certain differences in sex development that do not provide performance advantage, athletes with a positive SRY result will not be eligible to compete in the female category at IOC events.
It said, “With the rare exception of athletes with a diagnosis of Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) or other rare differences/disorders in sex development (DSDs) who do not benefit from the anabolic and/or performance-enhancing effects of testosterone, no athlete with an SRY-positive screen is eligible for competition in the female category at an IOC event.”
Such athletes, however, will remain eligible to compete in other classifications for which they qualify, including male, mixed or open categories.
IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, said the decision was based on scientific evidence and aimed at ensuring fairness and safety.
She said, “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition. The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts.
“At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”
She further said athletes must be treated with dignity and respect, noting that screening would only be required once and must be accompanied by counselling and education.
The IOC said the policy followed a review conducted between September 2024 and March 2026 involving consultations with scientists, medical experts, legal specialists, sports federations and athletes worldwide.
According to the committee, the working group reviewing the issue concluded that male sex provides performance advantages in sports relying on strength, power and endurance, and recommended that eligibility for the female category should be based on biological sex to ensure fairness and safety.
The statement noted, “There was a strong consensus that fairness and safety in the female category required clear, science-based eligibility rules, and that protecting the female category is a common priority.”
The IOC added that the policy replaces previous guidance on gender identity and sex variations in sport and will apply only to IOC events, while international federations and national Olympic committees are expected to adopt it when setting eligibility rules.
It clarified that the policy does not apply to grassroots or recreational sports programmes.
Kylian Mpappe said he and his France teammates did not perform well to progress to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final after their 2-0 defeat against Spain on Tuesday.
France went into the game as the favorite but Didier Deschamps’ men were completely outplayed by a better tactical and technical Spain.
Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro secured Spain’s spot in the World Cup Final, since the last time they won the tournament in South Africa 2010.
Luis de la Fuente’s men completely dominated France, restricting them to just two shots on target all game.
France had scored 16 goals before the game but Spain rendered Mbappe and his co-attackers ineffective on Tuesday.Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe described the French team’s performance as disappointing and not worthy of a final spot.
“We did not produce the performance we wanted, tactically, technically or in terms of our overall level,” Mbappe said.
“When you fail to do what you are supposed to do in a World Cup semi-final, you do not win.
“Spain stuck to their plan and to what they believe in. There was a lack of communication in our pressing, even when we won possession back, our first passes and first touches were not worthy of a World Cup semi-final,” he added.
After the game, France coach Didier Deschamps said his team lost to a better team.
“The players are devastated, but we have to be clear-headed: technically, we were second best. That is on us.”
Pedro Porro who scored the second goal for Spain said the victory is a dream come true for him, and added that his side did everything right against a brilliant team.
“A dream come true to be honest. I never even imagined anything like this, not even in my wildest dreams,” Porro said.
“We did everything right against a team that was having a brilliant World Cup,” he added.
Spain will discover their final opponents on Wednesday when England face Argentina in Atlanta for a place in Sunday’s final.
Two-time World Cup champions France will on Tuesday take on Spain, the reigning European champions and 2010 FIFA World Cup champions, in a match dubbed the “Clash of the Titans.”
It is the first semi-final fixture and one of the most anticipated match-ups of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
France is aiming for a third consecutive World Cup final appearance, led by the attacking prowess of Captain Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé, as expected, has dominated the tournament, taking his performances to another level as he leads the scoring chart with eight goals and three assists.
He is a force to be reckoned with, and his brilliance has inspired teammates such as Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year.
Together with Michael Olise, they have tormented opposing defences and given French fans the belief that 2026 could be their year.
France has been one of the standout teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
They reached the semi-finals with an unbeaten run and have looked strong in both attack and defence.
They defeated Senegal 3-1, Iraq 3-0 and Norway 4-1 to finish top of their group with three wins from three matches.
In the Round of 32, France beat Sweden 3-0 before edging Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, with Mbappé converting a penalty.
In the quarter-finals, they defeated tournament favourites Morocco 2-0, thanks to goals from Mbappé and Dembélé, to advance to the semi-finals.
Mbappé and Dembélé have been among the tournament’s most dangerous attacking players.
Together, they have scored 13 goals, matching a World Cup record for a pair of teammates.
France’s next challenge is a blockbuster semi-final against Spain, with a place in the World Cup final at stake.
Similarly, Spain, the reigning European champions, have impressed with their possession-based football and the emergence of young stars such as Lamine Yamal.
While France has been the tournament’s highest-scoring side, Spain has combined strong defensive performances with midfield dominance.
Spain has also been one of the standout teams at the World Cup, reaching the semi-finals for the first time since winning the tournament in 2010.
They finished top of Group H, defeating Uruguay 1-0, thrashing Saudi Arabia 4-0 and playing out a goalless draw against a resilient Cabo Verde side.
They maintained their impressive form by crushing Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32.
They defeated Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal 1-0 in a keenly contested and thrilling Round of 16 encounter, courtesy of a late winner from Mikel Merino.
Spain eliminated Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals, with Merino once again scoring the decisive late goal.
So far, Spain has conceded only one goal on the way to the semi-finals, making them one of the tournament’s strongest defensive teams.
They joined Argentina, France and England as the four top-ranked nations to reach the semi-finals, marking a historic first since the FIFA World Rankings were introduced.
Spain’s clash against the highly rated France promises to be a fascinating semi-final, with a place in the World Cup final at stake.
It is expected to be a mouth-watering tactical battle between France’s pace on the counter-attack and Spain’s patient possession game.
Meanwhile, as football fans across the globe eagerly await the encounter, supporters in Lagos are equally excited.
Femi Oshisami, a trader, said he was confident Spain would eliminate France because of his passion for Spanish football, which he considers superior to the French style.
He believes Spain is hungry for another major title after winning the current European Championship and looks capable of repeating the feat at the World Cup.
“It is going to be very explosive, a match to behold, and I am confident Spain will win at the end,” Oshisami said.
Similarly, Emeka Chukwura said he is a big fan of Mbappé and believes France is unstoppable because the team possesses the quality to break down any opposition in the competition.
“I have my money on France. They have a great team with players of different qualities who are basically world-class.
“They are aiming for a third consecutive appearance in the final, which is a credit to their hard work and consistency,” Chukwura said.
In the same vein, Yussuf Tijani, a shoe cobbler, said the World Cup has been very interesting and highly competitive.
He said he was heartbroken when the African teams were eliminated but still supports France because of the presence of players of African descent in the squad.
“I believe France will beat Spain to reach the final. They are a good team and have the capability to handle any kind of pressure,” Tijani said.
England will wear their all-white home kit to face Argentina in the semi-finals of the World Cup in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Holders Argentina will be in their navy blue away strip, with black shorts and socks, for the game at the Atlanta Stadium (20:00 BST).
They have only worn the darker kit once during the tournament, in their 3-1 win against Jordan in the group stage.
Argentina have enjoyed success in their away kit against England at previous World Cups.
They defeated the Three Lions 2-1 in the 1986 quarter-finals, in which Diego Maradona scored the ‘Hand of God’ goal, and also secured a last-16 penalty shootout victory over their old rivals at the 1998 tournament in France.
The home and away kits were reversed in 2002 for their group-stage match in Japan, with England claiming a 1-0 victory in red while Argentina wore their traditional striped kit.
Media outlets in Argentina have reported the team requested to wear the away kit in favour of their usual light blue and white strip for Wednesday’s last-four tie.
FIFA’S preference is for each team to wear its first-choice colours, but if there is a potential clash it will follow steps to ensure an acceptable colour contrast is found.
Football’s world governing body also tries to make sure there is a dark-kit and light-kit colour contrast, in the interests of fans with colour vision deficiency (colour blindness).
England booked their place in the semi-finals with a 2-1 extra-time victory against Norway on Saturday, while Argentina claimed a dramatic 3-1 win over 10-man Switzerland, also in extra time, on Sunday.
Nnaji’s Fraud Trial: Enugu PDP’s Chances Gets Slimmer
ShareBy David, Torough Abuja The National Working Committee of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Enugu state working...
Unity Key to Stronger Democracy, Information Minister Tells Nigeria APC Stakeholders
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called on members of the All...
Information Minister Congratulates Omoniyi Ibietan on Re-election as APRA Secretary General
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has congratulated Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan on...
NIHTE Urges African Govts to Adopt ‘Green Corridors’ for Low-Carbon Transport
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Deputy National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers, NIHTE, Engr. Bola...
NEPC Seeks Funding for ECOWAS Trade Promotion Network
ShareThe Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, has urged members of the ECOWAS Trade...
Troops Apprehend Terrorist Informants, Logistics Suppliers in Borno
ShareTroops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have apprehended suspected terrorist informants and logistics suppliers, received the surrender of an ISWAP...
Troops Rescue 13 Kidnapped Victims, Foil Terrorist Operations in Zamfara Communities
ShareFrom Ifeanyichukwu Nwannah, Gusau Troops of Joint Task Force, North West Operation Fansan Yamma (JTF NW OPFY) have rescued 13...
Wizkid Headline US Summer Festivals
ShareNigerian music superstar, Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, is set to perform at the BlastFest and the Trillville summer...
Singer Asake Announces ‘In God We Trust’ World Tour
ShareAfrobeats sensation, Ahmed Ololade, aka Asake, is set to embark on a world tour ‘In God We Trust’, a global...
Food Insecurity: Governance, Incompetence and Compromise
ShareBy Akpoturu Best Of all the vulnerabilities that can compromise a sovereign state, the inability to feed its own populace...