The Paralympics is preparing the ground for a potential ban on transgender women competing in women’s sports, with science to guide their decision, and plans to take the lead from the Olympic movement.
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Andrew Parsons was part of the Olympic scientific meetings last week that were understood to have highlighted trans women retaining physical advantages after going through male puberty – providing an edge in the pursuit of medals.
Such a ban could be seen as discriminatory but safety and fairness concerns are now being prioritised by sports leaders amid pressure from US President Donald Trump.
No new policy would be in place in time for the Winter Games next year in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy. The Paralympics are in March.
Mr Parsons, who is also an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, told Sky News: “Science should guide this decision, so it should not be cultural, religious or even social elements driving how the transgender situation should be dealt with in the world of sport.
“And what I have seen, the only thing I can share with you is that science is guiding the IOC direction that they are still going to take on the transgender issue.
“But I think it’s important that the IOC is taking the lead. We do understand that it affects different sports differently.
“But again, when you have the IOC taking the leadership, it’s very positive because it also provides directions to everyone else in the sport world.”
Valentina Petrillo of Italy competes in the Paris Olympics. Pic: Reuters
Paris 2024 saw sprinter Valentina Petrillo become the first openly transgender athlete to compete at a Paralympics but the Italian won no medals.
The IPC has been allowing each sport to set its own gender eligibility policies.
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Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Pic: Reuters
Mr Parsons is still cautious, saying the IPC would have to consider after the IOC decision “if it’s something we would like to follow” and if further research is required.
The Brazilian said: “We may see more transgender (athletes) taking part in sport activities. And then there is a big discussion on if they have a sport advantage or not compared to female athletes.
“So I think it’s a hot topic, obviously, that we do not ignore the big discussions in the world of sport.”
The plan at the IOC, Sky News understands, is a blanket ban also on athletes with differences in sex development (DSD) from women’s sport.
The IOC said no decision has been taken. That could come at an IOC session meeting next year.
