— A woman on her journey from janitor to an anesthesiology residency at the same Yale hospital. No wonder her match day video went viral.
Olympics
The IOC Just Dropped a Big Decision
What’s going on: The debate over transgender athletes competing in the Olympics comes up what feels like every four years. Yesterday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ended the back-and-forth and announced a ban on transgender athletes in women’s categories. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the first woman to hold the role and a former Olympian, said the policy is “based on science and has been led by medical experts,” but didn’t identify them. Not all experts agree: One human geneticist, who previously worked with the IOC, said questions about gender and sex eligibility are still “not settled at all.” The IOC expects athletes to appeal the decision.
What it means: The new rules go into effect at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. They also apply to athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) like Olympian Caster Semenya. They might not have the typical XX chromosomes, which can lead to higher testosterone levels or greater muscle development. These athletes can only participate in mixed or men’s events, while transgender men can compete in women’s categories. The IOC will require all athletes in women's events to undergo a one-time genetic test (which already happens at some international track and field events). The policy could conflict with national laws, such as those in France, where privacy rules block genetic testing tied to gender. In those cases, the IOC said athletes could get tested in countries hosting competitions.
