LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – In a move to prevent transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, President Donald Trump has announced that athletes participating in the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles will undergo a rigorous testing process.
During a news conference on August 5, Trump stated that a “very, very strong form of testing” will be implemented to ensure that only athletes who meet the required criteria participate in women’s sports, specifically in events like boxing.
The President’s comments came in response to a question about the Justice Department’s potential involvement in prosecuting transgender women who compete in these events.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee had previously changed its rules to prevent transgender women from participating in women’s sports, citing Trump’s executive order in February that aimed to bar transgender student athletes from competing in women’s sports.
This decision was made after “a series of respectful and constructive conversations with federal officials” following the executive order.
In a further development, the U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services issued policy guidance on August 4, preventing trans women from receiving “extraordinary ability” visas to compete in women’s sports.
The 2028 games are expected to attract 11,000 Olympic and 4,500 Paralympic athletes.
Trump’s announcement about testing athletes came as he signed an executive order to establish a White House Olympics task force, aimed at handling security and other issues related to the 2028 games.
Authorities have yet to provide further details on the testing process, but it is likely to be a key factor in determining athlete eligibility for the upcoming Olympics and Paralympic events.