IOC Considers Ban on Transgender Women in Female Olympic Events

• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering a unified policy that could ban transgender women from competing in female events across all Olympic sports.
• IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the move aims to protect fairness in women’s competition, citing research showing that male puberty gives lasting physical advantages.
• The decision may be announced ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, following debates reignited after the 2024 Paris Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is moving toward introducing a unified policy that could ban transgender women from competing in female categories across all Olympic sports.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the goal is to ensure fairness in women’s competitions, emphasizing that the committee will build on existing research showing lasting physical advantages from male puberty.

The decision, expected to be finalized before the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, follows growing debate after the 2024 Paris Games and increasing pressure for consistent rules.

Several sports bodies, including World Athletics and World Aquatics, already enforce similar bans, and insiders say the IOC is likely to follow suit soon.

In other news…. The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has laid off about 800 employees as part of its ongoing restructuring exercise, amid economic hardship and persistent power supply issues.

According to Punch, the mass sack began on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, after tense negotiations with labour unions reduced the initial plan to dismiss 1,800 workers. A sample disengagement letter confirmed the move was part of a “rightsizing process,” with affected employees promised full entitlements after completing clearance procedures.

Sources within the company said the unions initially resisted the layoffs but later agreed to a reduced number. AEDC’s Head of Customer Experience, Kenechukwu Ofili, described the exercise as a routine internal process that followed established guidelines.

The development adds to growing concerns about Nigeria’s struggling power sector, where low investment, poor infrastructure, and frequent management changes continue to undermine service delivery.