The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a major policy shift regarding eligibility for women’s events at the Olympic Games, stating that only biological females will be permitted to compete in the category moving forward.

In a statement released Thursday, the IOC confirmed that all athletes seeking to participate in women’s competitions will be required to undergo a one-time Sex Determining Region Y (SRY) gene test. The test is designed to identify the presence of the Y chromosome, typically associated with male biological development.

According to the IOC, the new regulation will not be applied retroactively but will come into full effect at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the decision was guided by scientific research and medical expertise.

“The scientific evidence is very clear. Male chromosomes give performance advantages in sports that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” Coventry stated. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can determine victory or defeat. It is therefore essential to maintain fairness and safety in competition.”

The IOC added that all international sports federations must adopt the policy for participation in IOC-sanctioned elite events, including both Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

The move aligns with a similar stance taken by Donald Trump, whose 2025 executive order in the United States restricted transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.

The decision is expected to spark continued global debate around inclusion, fairness, and the role of science in competitive athletics as preparations intensify for the next Olympic cycle.

Lionel Messi reached yet another extraordinary milestone on Thursday night, netting the 900th goal of his illustrious career during Inter Miami CF’s 1-1 draw against Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The 38-year-old icon becomes just the second player in football history to reach the landmark, joining his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the exclusive 900-goal club.

Messi’s milestone goal came in the seventh minute, as he fired a low, powerful strike past the Nashville defence, igniting early celebrations among the home supporters. The goal also marked a remarkable 21-year journey since his first senior strike for FC Barcelona in 2005.

Since moving to Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has scored 81 goals for the club, adding to his staggering career tally, which includes 672 goals for Barcelona, 32 for Paris Saint-Germain, and 115 for the Argentina national team.

However, the historic achievement was overshadowed by disappointment for Inter Miami. Nashville SC found an equaliser in the 74th minute, and the match ended 1-1. With the first leg having finished goalless, the tie was decided on away goals, leading to Miami’s elimination from the competition.

Despite the team’s exit, the night will be remembered for another defining chapter in Messi’s legendary career—one that further cements his place among football’s greatest ever players.

Nigeria’s hopes of featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have officially been extinguished after FIFA confirmed the Democratic Republic of Congo as Africa’s representative in the upcoming inter-confederation play-off tournament.

In an accreditation notice released to international media on Wednesday, football’s global governing body outlined details of the six-nation play-off competition set to determine the final two qualification slots for the expanded World Cup to be co-hosted by 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

DR Congo Gets the Nod

DR Congo national football team will join five other nations — Bolivia national football team, Iraq national football team, Jamaica national football team, New Caledonia national football team, and Suriname national football team — in the high-stakes mini-tournament scheduled to kick off on March 26.

The confirmation effectively shuts the door on Nigeria’s challenge regarding the outcome of their November 2025 CAF play-off encounter against DR Congo.

Nigeria’s Protest Falls Short

The Nigeria national football team, popularly known as the Super Eagles, had contested their elimination after losing the decisive fixture to DR Congo via penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Nigeria’s football authorities filed a formal protest, alleging that DR Congo fielded ineligible players during the match. However, FIFA’s latest communication indicates that the complaint did not alter the outcome, with DR Congo officially retained as Africa’s representative in the inter-confederation play-off.

Bitter End to World Cup Dream

For Nigeria, the confirmation represents a painful conclusion to a turbulent qualification campaign. The Super Eagles, three-time African champions and regular World Cup participants in recent decades, will now miss out on the historic first 48-team edition of the tournament.

With the inter-confederation play-off tournament set to determine the final two tickets to North America 2026, attention shifts to DR Congo and the five other contenders battling for a place on football’s biggest stage.

For Nigerian fans, however, the announcement marks the definitive end of the road in their quest for a return to the global showpiece.