IOC Needs Clear Policies on Women's Sport to Avoid Controversies, Says Former Olympic Champion Sebastian Coe

Former Olympic champion and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has called for clear-cut policies to be introduced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to protect women's sport from controversies such as those seen in the boxing events at this year's Paris Games.

Speaking out after making a bid to become the next IOC president, Coe emphasized the need for immediate change in the participation of trans athletes and those with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) in women's events. He highlighted that athletics was initially at the forefront of formulating a policy on the matter but that the IOC failed to follow suit, leaving individual sports federations to decide.

Coe's comments come after the gold medal success of Algerian athlete Imane Khelif and Taiwanese athlete Lin Yu-ting in boxing, who had previously been banned due to adverse sex chromosome tests. The lack of clarity on trans and DSD athletes has led to controversy and concerns among women's sports organizations.

"I felt uncomfortable with that," Coe said. "I think the lesson was that you need clear-cut policies and the present framework is not anywhere near clear enough. For me it's a non-negotiable. If you do not protect that category (women's sport), or are in any way ambivalent about it, then it will not end well for women's sport."

Coe's bid to become IOC president has been made known as he feels he has been building towards this role his whole life and believes the organization is ready for change. A multiple world record holder and Olympic gold medalist, Coe also had a successful commercial career in sports marketing.

However, Coe's approach to reform within the IOC has not always been without controversy. He faced criticism from some members after banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from athletics following their government's alleged involvement in state-sponsored doping and then, following the invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, his decision to award prize money to Olympic champions in Paris this year was widely reported as being at odds with IOC policies.

Coe has been an IOC member for only four years but has already made a significant impact on the organization, particularly as the head of World Athletics, where he implemented numerous reforms to improve the sport.