The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee has announced it will not implement a specific policy on the eligibility of transgender athletes for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, despite mounting political pressure from in Los Angeles, despite mounting political pressure from US President Donald Trump.
USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland was emphatic at the conclusion of this year’s first board meeting: “It would not be appropriate for us to adopt such a position,” she said, as reported by The Guardian. She stressed that eligibility criteria are set not by the National Olympic Committee, but by international federations at the global level and national governing bodies domestically.
“Do you think you will eventually have to comply with President Trump’s executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports if they have gone through puberty as males?” asked New York Times journalist Jeré Longman. “We do not and will not have an eligibility policy,” Hirshland reiterated, even when pressed on the recent controversy at the Cherry Blossom fencing tournament, where American fencer Stephanie Turner refused to compete against transgender athlete Redmond Sullivan.
“It is important to clarify that the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee does not set eligibility criteria for events beyond our jurisdiction,” said Hirshland. “At the international level, eligibility is typically determined by the relevant international federations for events such as World Cups and World Championships. At the national level, this responsibility lies with the national governing bodies, whether for elite competitions like national championships or for grassroots events such as youth sports. For that reason, we do not and will not have an eligibility policy. It would not be appropriate for us to adopt such a position.”
The USOPC’s stance places has not bent so far to the Republican administration. Executive Order 14201, titled Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports, prohibits transgender women from competing in women’s categories unless they underwent transition before puberty. This federal measure may clash with the LA28 Host City Agreement, which commits the United States to ensuring access for all qualified athletes.
USOPC chair Gene Sykes said he had received “meaningful assurances” from the White House and the State Department regarding visa access for athletes and delegations. However, he acknowledged that concerns around transgender exclusion had not been directly addressed. “We reaffirm our commitment to protecting athletes’ opportunities to participate and to ensuring a fair and safe environment for women,” he stated.
