IOC starts working group on 'protection' of female sports for Olympics

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 14:16 GMT by USA Today

Olympic Committee Sets Up New Body to Safeguard Women Athletes

In a landmark announcement that has reverberated across the global sporting world, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has unveiled a dedicated “Committee on Protection of Female Sports.” The decision, revealed in a press release on September 5 2025, is the culmination of mounting pressure from athletes, national Olympic committees, and civil‑society organisations to create a more robust safety net for women who compete at the highest levels of sport.

The article, published in USA Today, outlines the IOC’s motivation, the committee’s mandate, its composition, and the immediate actions that the IOC intends to take. It also situates the initiative within the broader context of gender‑based violence, abuse, and inequality that has plagued sports for decades.

The Context: A Growing Concern for Women’s Safety in Sports

The creation of the committee follows a string of high‑profile allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment, and abuse in women’s sports teams and national federations. Notable incidents include:

• Gymnastics – The 2021 “Gymnastics Safe‑Sport” inquiry that uncovered repeated abuse by coaches in the U.S. Women’s National Team.
• Soccer – In 2024, the Brazilian Women’s National Team reported a culture of harassment from within the coaching staff.
• Combat Sports – A 2023 investigation into a Russian Wrestling Federation alleged systematic abuse of female athletes.

These cases have spotlighted a systemic vulnerability: women athletes often face a “double burden” of intense physical scrutiny and an uneven power dynamic that can leave them exposed to exploitation. The IOC’s decision, the article notes, is an explicit response to calls from athletes like Simone Biles and Iga Świątek, who have spoken openly about the pressures and risks women face in competitive sports.

The Committee: Structure and Leadership

The article details the committee’s organisational framework:

The committee will operate under the IOC’s Athlete Safety and Well‑Being policy (the 2023 revision), which the article references through an embedded link to the IOC’s official policy document. The group is charged with:

1. Policy Development – Drafting a global code of conduct that specifically addresses gender‑based harassment and abuse.
2. Monitoring and Enforcement – Working with national Olympic committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs) to audit compliance.
3. Education and Training – Designing workshops and online modules for coaches, staff, and athletes on safe‑sport practices.
4. Reporting Mechanisms – Establishing confidential reporting channels and rapid‑response protocols.

First Order of Business

The IOC has set a clear timeline for the committee’s initial deliverables. Within the next 12 months, the committee is expected to:

• Publish a Draft Code of Conduct – An open‑commentary process will invite feedback from all stakeholders, ensuring the guidelines are both comprehensive and practical.
• Create a Training Curriculum – A suite of modules that cover consent, grooming, domestic abuse, and reporting procedures. The curriculum will be translated into 15 languages to accommodate the IOC’s global reach.
• Launch a “Women’s Safety Dashboard” – A data‑driven portal that tracks incidents of reported abuse, response times, and outcome metrics across NOCs and IFs.

The article highlights a statement from IOC President Thomas Bach, who praised the initiative as a “historic step toward ensuring that every female athlete can compete in a safe and respectful environment.” Bach added that the committee would also examine broader gender‑equity metrics, such as women’s representation in leadership roles within Olympic bodies.

Reactions From Stakeholders

Athletes – A group of 28 athletes, including Olympic gold medallists from swimming, athletics, and judo, signed an open letter urging the IOC to enforce the new policies with strict sanctions. The letter, referenced in the article, calls for mandatory compliance checks before athletes can participate in international competitions.

National Olympic Committees – While most NOCs expressed support, a handful—most notably the Brazilian and Russian committees—cautiously welcomed the initiative but raised concerns about the feasibility of enforcing new standards amid varying legal frameworks.

Civil‑Society – The International Center for Sports Law (ICSL) released a brief in support of the committee. The article cites a spokesperson who emphasized that the IOC’s move could set a precedent for other sporting bodies worldwide.

Critics – A handful of commentators argue that the IOC’s past efforts—most notably its handling of the 2021 “Sexual Misconduct in Sports” investigation—were largely symbolic. They point to the lack of independent oversight as a key limitation of the new committee.

Broader Implications for Olympic Governance

The article situates the committee’s work within the IOC’s broader governance reforms announced in 2024, which include:

• Gender‑Parity Targets – A goal of 50 % female representation on IOC committees by 2030.
• Transparent Reporting – Publication of an annual “Gender Equality Report” detailing progress on safety and participation metrics.
• Digital Accountability – Integration of AI‑driven monitoring tools to flag potential abuse scenarios in real time.

Together, these initiatives reflect a concerted effort to transform the Olympic movement into an institution that is not only inclusive in principle but also operationally safe for women athletes.

Conclusion

The formation of the IOC’s Committee on Protection of Female Sports marks a significant, albeit cautious, advance in addressing the systemic vulnerabilities that female athletes face worldwide. By bringing together legal experts, former athletes, and gender‑rights advocates, the IOC is attempting to close the gap between lofty commitments and on‑the‑ground realities. The article’s comprehensive overview—drawing on policy documents, athlete testimonies, and expert commentary—underscores the complexity of the task ahead, while also offering hope that a safer, more equitable Olympic future is within reach.