Republicans are standing up for female athletes ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. A group of 26 GOP lawmakers are demanding the International Olympic Committee (IOC) align with President Trump’s executive order banning biological males from women’s sports.
At a glance:
- 26 Republican lawmakers sent a letter urging the IOC to bar biological males from women’s Olympic events
- The letter aligns with President Trump’s February 5 Executive Order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”
- GOP lawmakers argue eligibility for women’s competitions should be based on biological sex
- The initiative comes ahead of the IOC’s March 17 meeting and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
- Current IOC policy allows transgender athletes to compete based on testosterone levels rather than biological sex
Republicans Demand Fairness in Women’s Olympic Events
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) and Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) are leading the charge to protect women’s sports at the Olympic level. The powerful Republican lawmakers, joined by 24 of their colleagues, sent a formal letter to IOC President Thomas Bach demanding changes to current transgender athlete policies. Risch and Owens are the latest in a long line of Republicans to take a brave stance against gender extremists.
The lawmakers specifically referred to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order from February 5, that prohibits biological males from competing in women’s sports. Their letter stressed the need for Olympic eligibility to be determined by biological sex rather than so-called gender identity.
Protecting Female Athletes’ Opportunities and Safety
The Republican lawmakers made their position clear in the strongly-worded letter to the IOC. “Future Olympians are counting on the IOC to protect the opportunities of women and girls to contribute to this proud tradition,” they wrote, adding that allowing biological males to compete against women “undermines competitive opportunities, safety, and respect for female athletes.”
This initiative continues the Republican Party’s commitment to preserving women’s sports from what many conservatives view as unfair competition. The House recently passed a GOP bill banning transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports teams in K-12 schools.
The letter to the IOC was signed by several prominent Republicans including Senators Mike Crapo, Marsha Blackburn, and Representatives Jim Banks and Virginia Foxx. The stance is currently popular with Republican voters, particularly those concerned about what children are learning and seeing in schools.
Trump Administration Takes Lead on Protecting Women’s Sports
President Trump’s Executive Order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” has become a blueprint for conservative policy on transgender athletes. The order, which Trump announced would apply to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, gives Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem authority to enforce restrictions against biological males attempting to enter women’s competitions.
The issue gained international attention during the 2024 Paris Olympics when Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who was disqualified from a championship due to having XY chromosomes but allowed to compete under IOC guidelines.
The IOC plans to hold its next major meeting on March 17, where they will elect a new President and continue preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Republican lawmakers are making it clear that protecting women’s sports will remain a priority during the American-hosted games.
