USOPC Changes Policy on Transgender Athletes in Women’s Events
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) changed its policy and transgender athletes will no longer be able to compete in the Olympic or Paralympic Games in women’s events, according to a memo obtained by ABC News.
The change stems from President Trump’s February executive order, which mandates enforcement of schools and athletic associations that “deny women single-sex sports and single-sex locker rooms,” according to the policy document.
The memo to the Team USA community from USOPC President Gene Sykes and CEO Sarah Hirshland stated, “As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations.”
In an update to its athlete safety policy, the committee didn’t use the word “transgender” but stated its revised policy “emphasizes the importance of ensuring fair and safe competition environments for women.”
“The USOPC is committed to protecting opportunities for athletes participating in sport. The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities, e.g., IOC, IPC, NGBs, to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act,” the updated policy on the USOPC website states, according to ABC.
The revised USOPC policy doesn’t clarify how the ban will work, or if the same policy applies to men’s sports.
Read the full ABC report here.