IOC Controversy Sparks Call for Clear Policies on Trans Athletes and Women's Sports

London, UK - Former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe has vowed to push for immediate change in the participation of trans athletes and those with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) in women's events if he becomes the next president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Coe, who is one of seven contenders vying for the top position, expressed his discomfort over the lack of clarity on eligibility policies for trans athletes in women's sports. He believes that clear-cut policies are essential to protect women's sport and prevent controversies like the one witnessed in boxing at this year's Paris Games.

The controversy arose when Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting won gold medals, despite having been previously banned due to adverse sex chromosome tests. Coe attributed his discomfort to the absence of clarity on this matter from the IOC.

"The more fundamental observation I made is that it's absolutely vital as an organisation that you have clear-cut policies," Coe said in a recent interview with Sky Sports.

Coe, who has had a strained relationship with the IOC during his time as World Athletics president, also promised to provide "uncompromising" guidance to sports if elected. He believes that it is the IOC's responsibility to create a landscape with clear-cut policies on trans athlete participation.

"If you do not protect [the female] category, or you are in any way ambivalent about it for whatever reason, then it will not end well for women's sport," Coe said. "I come from a sport where that is absolutely sacrosanct."

Coe, a longtime sports administrator and former Member of Parliament, has already made his bid for the IOC presidency official. He aims to bring much-needed change to the organization and has expressed confidence in his ability to lead it.

The World Athletics president has had a long commercial career in sports marketing and is known for initiating reforms within the sport. His decisive action on banning Russian and Belarusian athletes due to state-sponsored doping, as well as awarding prize money to Olympic champions without consulting the IOC first, have raised eyebrows among some IOC members.

If elected, Coe plans to push for immediate change in the participation of trans athletes and those with DSD in women's events. His bid has sparked hopes that a new era of transparency and clarity will emerge from the IOC under his leadership.