U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Will Follow Trump’s Ban On Trans Women In Women’s Sports

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Will Follow Trump’s Ban On Trans Women In Women’s Sports

The U.S. Olympic Committee is making changes ahead of the next Games.

In a policy update, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee confirmed it will comply with President Donald Trump’s new executive order banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports. The update appears in a new version of the USOPC’s “Athlete Safety Policy,” which was posted to its website earlier this week.

Though the 27-page document doesn’t explicitly mention transgender athletes, it includes new language affirming compliance with Executive Order 14201, also known as Trump’s “No Men in Women’s Sports Executive Order.” It states:

“The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders… to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act.”

 

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In a letter to Team USA, USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland and President Gene Sykes wrote:

“As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations… [and] promote athlete safety and competitive fairness.”

Critics have long questioned the fairness and necessity of banning trans athletes from women’s sports, citing research and data showing they make up only a small percentage of competitors.

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