BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee will comply with Trump's ban on transgender women in women's sports

The policy update does not use the word "transgender," but says it will comply with President Donald Trump's executive order on the matter.

Lia Thomas told Sports Illustrated: “I’m not a man. I’m a woman, so I belong on the women’s team.”Credit...David Walter Banks for The New York Times

In a quiet but significant move, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has updated its policy to comply with former President Donald Trump’s executive order barring transgender women from participating in women’s sports — though the word “transgender” is notably absent from the 27-page document.

The updated "Athlete Safety Policy," released Monday on the USOPC’s website, outlines its intent to ensure “a fair and safe competition environment” for women. It references Executive Order 14201 — widely known as the “No Men in Women’s Sports” order — and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act as guiding standards for its compliance.

“The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities… to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment,” the policy reads. While vague in language, the intent is clear: transgender women will likely no longer be permitted to compete in the women’s division at future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The full scope of the policy’s impact remains uncertain, particularly as the world looks ahead to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. No specific athletes were named or referenced, and it’s not yet clear how many competitors may be disqualified under the revised rules.

One prominent name that surfaced in public discussion is Nikki Hiltz, a non-binary middle-distance runner who competed in the women’s 1,500-meter event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, placing seventh. Because Hiltz was assigned female at birth, the new policy may not apply to them under its current language — though this remains unconfirmed.

To date, no athlete has claimed an Olympic medal while openly competing as a transgender woman. The most high-profile example is New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who made history at the Tokyo Games as the first openly trans woman to compete at the Olympics but failed to reach the podium.

Caitlyn Jenner — perhaps the most well-known transgender Olympian — won gold in the men’s decathlon in 1976, decades before coming out publicly as a transgender woman.

Critics argue the USOPC’s vague policy wording is an intentional tactic to avoid public backlash while still enforcing exclusion. Others believe it’s a necessary step to preserve fairness in women’s competition.

Either way, this update signals a sharp turn in Olympic policy — one that aligns with Trump-era directives and leaves the future uncertain for transgender athletes dreaming of Olympic gold.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.