By Gloria Nosa
In a bold and controversial move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed the implementation of a one-time genetic sex verification test for all female athletes competing in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This announcement comes amid mounting global debates over gender classification in elite sports and follows high-profile disputes at recent international competitions.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, August 6, Trump addressed the lingering fallout from the Paris 2024 Olympics, which were marred by renewed controversy over the eligibility of certain female competitors. He cited the cases of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting—both of whom faced disqualification by the now-defunct International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2023 over alleged gender eligibility concerns, only to be later reinstated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ahead of the Paris Games.
“These issues are not going away. We’re going to make sure our women athletes have a level playing field,” Trump declared. “There will be strong and scientifically backed testing. If someone doesn’t meet the standard, they won’t compete.”
While he did not provide specific legal guidelines, Trump hinted that athletes found misrepresenting their gender identity could face investigation by the Department of Justice. He also unveiled plans to establish a White House-led task force—under his direct supervision—to coordinate all domestic preparations for the 2028 Games, including athlete eligibility oversight.
Trump’s remarks reflect a growing push by some sports federations to introduce stricter biological sex determinations, particularly in women’s competitions. Recently, World Athletics, the governing body for track and field, announced it would enforce a new one-time genetic screening requirement for all female competitors at the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo. Beginning September 1, athletes will undergo non-invasive testing—such as cheek swabs or blood analysis—to check for the presence of the SRY gene, a genetic marker often used to determine biological sex.
Female athletes from around the world, including British stars Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter Bell, will be subject to these new requirements ahead of the Tokyo meet starting September 13. The move has already sparked fierce debate among sporting communities and human rights groups, many of whom warn that such policies may lead to invasive practices, discrimination, and the policing of women’s bodies.
Despite criticism, Trump defended his stance, saying the measure is meant to “protect the integrity of women’s sports” and to address what he described as growing “unfair advantages” in certain competitions—particularly in contact and strength-based events. He did not name specific athletes but emphasized that the testing would be implemented across all sports disciplines during the LA 2028 Games.
The Los Angeles Olympics, scheduled for summer 2028, will be the third time the city hosts the global event, following its previous stints in 1932 and 1984. It will also be the first Summer Games held in the United States since Atlanta 1996.
As global sporting bodies grapple with evolving definitions of gender and fairness, Trump’s proposal is likely to fuel ongoing tensions between science, human rights, and competitive integrity. Whether the International Olympic Committee will respond to or resist these calls for mandatory genetic testing remains to be seen, but the road to LA 2028 has already taken on a sharply divisive tone.
