IOC's gender policy divides opinion as supporters and critics clash

LONDON, March 26 : Reactions to the International Olympic Committee's new policy on gender testing were sharply divided on Thursday, with supporters hailing a long‑overdue move to protect women's sport and critics warning it risks stigma and harm to young athletes.

Supporters of the decision said it was essential for the governing body to reassert the importance of a protected female category and to provide clarity for sports organisations worldwide.

Fiona McAnena, Director of Campaigns for UK-based advocacy group Sex Matters, called the ruling "extremely welcome".

"Women's sport can only be for those who are female," McAnena told Reuters in an interview. "The IOC sets the standard for sport worldwide. It's very welcome that the IOC has recognised that the only way to have fair sport for women and girls is to have a protected female category."

She said it was crucial for the IOC to take the lead, rather than leaving individual sports to navigate the issue alone.

"Their influence is enormous," she said. "Many sports used the IOC's previous policies to justify not protecting the female category. That's why I'm really pleased the IOC has called this policy 'protecting the female category'."

McAnena rejected the idea that broader inclusion automatically increases participation.

"We know that women and girls drop out of sport when they are forced to compete with boys, or when they find that changing rooms or playing fields are not single‑sex when they thought they would be," she said.

While broadly supportive, McAnena said there were elements of the policy that fell short. She criticised the IOC's decision not to backdate the rules, saying it failed to address past injustices.

"We know that three women were cheated of medals in the