Olympics

Transgender women athletes banned from women’s Olympic events by new IOC policy

Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press 5 minute read Thursday, Mar. 26, 2026

GENEVA (AP) — Transgender women athletes are now excluded from women's events at the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy on Thursday which aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females,” the International Olympic Committee said, to be determined by a mandatory gene test once in an athlete's career.

It is unclear how many, if any, transgender women are competing at an Olympic level. No woman who transitioned from being born male competed at the 2024 Paris Summer Games, though weightlifter Laurel Hubbard did at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 without winning a medal.

The eligibility policy that will apply from the L.A. Olympics in July 2028 “protects fairness, safety and integrity in the female category,” the IOC said.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Weather

Apr. 3, 6 PM: 0°c Cloudy with wind Apr. 4, 12 AM: -2°c Cloudy

Brandon MB

2°C, Cloudy with wind

Full Forecast

Canada’s Winter Games results draw attention to sport commission report

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Canada’s Winter Games results draw attention to sport commission report

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

How athletes competing on the world stage are funded was just one piece of an omnibus report on the state of Canadian sport, but a key one given the country's performance at the recent Winter Games.

Of the 98 calls to action in the Future of Sport in Canada Commission's final report issued Tuesday, increased core funding for national sport organizations was an urgent one.

"The sport system is facing a funding crisis, which contributes to the safe sport crisis," said Lise Maisonneuve, a former chief justice of the Ontario court of justice, who headed the commission.

"We need to increase the investment in sport to match our expectations of what the sport system ought to be. We therefore call on the Government of Canada to urgently increase core funding to national sport organizations and to regularly review and adjust funding levels.

Read
Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

Canada's Amy Fraser competes during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Canada's Amy Fraser competes during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Five things about the Future of Sport in Canada Commission

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Five things about the Future of Sport in Canada Commission

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2026

What is the Future of Sport in Canada Commission?

Announced in December, 2023 by former federal sports minister Carla Qualtrough, the commission was among various federal government remedies in response to a wave of maltreatment and abuse reports, both current and historical, that surfaced after the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. Qualtrough was under pressure to hold a public inquiry, which she said would take too long.

What did the commission do?

The commission headed by Lise Maisonneuve, a former Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, conducted cross-country consultations, gathered data from a public survey, held a two-part summit in Ottawa and issued an interim report and a final report.

Read
Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2026

Justice Lise Maisonneuve, who will lead the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, participates in a news conference with Minister of Sport and Physical Activity Carla Qualtrough, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Justice Lise Maisonneuve, who will lead the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, participates in a news conference with Minister of Sport and Physical Activity Carla Qualtrough, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Canadian sport system ‘underfunded and unsafe,’ commission urges Ottawa to step up

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Canadian sport system ‘underfunded and unsafe,’ commission urges Ottawa to step up

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2026

Canadian sport needs an overhaul, and it starts with the federal government.

That was the conclusion of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission's final report released Tuesday.

The Canadian sport system is broken, fragmented and unsustainable, said Lise Maisonneuve, a former chief justice of the Ontario court of justice, who headed the commission.

The report issued 98 calls to action for phased-in change over five years, but starting immediately.

Read
Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2026

Justice Lise Maisonneuve, who will lead the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, participates in a news conference with Minister of Sport and Physical Activity Carla Qualtrough, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Justice Lise Maisonneuve, who will lead the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, participates in a news conference with Minister of Sport and Physical Activity Carla Qualtrough, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Federal government announces safe sport funding

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Federal government announces safe sport funding

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Mar. 20, 2026

OTTAWA - The federal government is giving $5 million to Sport Integrity Canada to continue administering the Canadian Safe Sport Program in 2026-27.

Sport Integrity Canada, formerly the Canadian Centre For Ethics in Sport, has taken over the handling of complaints and reports of abuse and maltreatment in sport from the defunct Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC).

SIC announced Thursday an expansion of the public registry of people sanctioned or provisionally sanctioned in the sport system.

Canada's Secretary of Sport Adam van Koeverden announced the funding Friday ahead of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission releasing its final report Tuesday.

Read
Friday, Mar. 20, 2026

Secretary of State of Sport Adam van Koeverden rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Secretary of State of Sport Adam van Koeverden rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Sport Integrity Canada expands public safe sport registry

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Sport Integrity Canada expands public safe sport registry

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026

OTTAWA - Sport Integrity Canada has expanded its public registry of people sanctioned under the Canadian Safe Sport Program.

The agency, formerly the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, has taken over the management of complaints and reports of maltreatment in sport from the shuttered Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC).

The registry expansion has been realigned to include people under sanction whose cases were handled by OSIC before the handover, and also those whose cases were handled through a national sport organization's own safe sport process.

“A comprehensive and credible registry is fundamental to safe sport," said Sport Integrity Canada chief executive officer Jeremy Luke in a statement Thursday. 

Read
Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026

Secretary of State (Sport) Adam van Koeverden rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Secretary of State (Sport) Adam van Koeverden rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

The Hockey Hall of Fame expects to keep the US Olympic gold medal-winning pucks

The Associated Press 3 minute read Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026

TORONTO (AP) — The Hockey Hall of Fame says the pucks used to score the gold medal-winning men’s and women’s goals at the Milan Cortina Olympics are part of its permanent collection after being donated by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The Hall released a statement about its artifacts from the Games on Wednesday, a day after Jack Hughes, who scored the golden goal in overtime for the U.S. men, told ESPN he wanted the puck so he could give it to his father, Jim.

“These artifacts are preserved, exhibited and shared with fans worldwide through our museum and international outreach programs, ensuring that defining Olympic and World Championship moments remain protected and accessible to the global hockey community,” the Hall said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “We hold tremendous respect for the men and women who create these unforgettable moments on the ice, and we remain committed to preserving their achievements in a manner that is responsible, secure and accessible to fans everywhere.”

The U.S. swept men's, women's and Paralympic sled hockey gold, beating Canada in each final to win all three for the first time in the same year. Megan Keller scored the women's golden goal, also in OT, and that puck is similarly enshrined.

WADA delays decision over potential ban of Trump from major sporting events until after World Cup

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

WADA delays decision over potential ban of Trump from major sporting events until after World Cup

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press 3 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

The World Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday put off a decision about barring government officials from major sporting events if their countries voluntarily withhold dues, pushing a potential conflict with President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials until at least after this summer's World Cup.

The WADA executive committee met and said it would consider the new rule in September, two months after the end of the World Cup, which the U.S. is hosting along with Canada and Mexico.

If such a rule is adopted later this year, it would presumably go into effect before the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

The U.S. hasn't paid its dues since 2023. If that continues, the new rule could place Trump and U.S. lawmakers on a banned list for Games in their own country, though there are doubts about whether an anti-doping regulator could keep any of them from attending the Olympics.

Read
Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

President Donald Trump leaves after an event in the East Room of the White House on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump leaves after an event in the East Room of the White House on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Doug Armstrong steps down as general manager of Canada’s Olympic hockey team

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Doug Armstrong steps down as general manager of Canada’s Olympic hockey team

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

CALGARY - Doug Armstrong will not return as general manager of Canada's Olympic men's hockey team.

He spent two years as the management group lead for the national men's team at competitions like the world hockey championship, 4 Nations Face-Off and Milan Cortina Games. 

Canada reached the Olympic final last month but dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the United States.

Hockey Canada confirmed his departure in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

Read
Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

Doug Armstrong, general manager of Canada’s men’s Olympic hockey team, gives remarks before naming the roster for the 2026 Winter Games at a news conference in Minneapolis on Dec. 31, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Doug Armstrong, general manager of Canada’s men’s Olympic hockey team, gives remarks before naming the roster for the 2026 Winter Games at a news conference in Minneapolis on Dec. 31, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

WADA is weighing a rule to bar Trump and US officials from major events. Can it really do that?

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

WADA is weighing a rule to bar Trump and US officials from major events. Can it really do that?

Eddie Pells, The Associated Press 7 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

The idea sounds outlandish, if not downright impossible. 

Leaders at the World Anti-Doping Agency are considering adopting a rule that could bar President Donald Trump and all U.S. government officials from attending major international events — even if they take place on American soil. 

A few coming up are as big as they get: this summer’s World Cup; the LA Olympics in 2028; the Winter Games in Utah in 2034.

This is not a fight of Trump’s choosing, but rather one being pursued by WADA itself, which has been the subject of bipartisan and virtually universal disapproval in Congress, in the Trump and Biden administrations and in the offices of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for most of this decade. 

Read
Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents President Donald Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, Pool, File_

FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents President Donald Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, Pool, File_

CPC CEO acknowledges dip in Paralympic medal standings, calls for added investment

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

CPC CEO acknowledges dip in Paralympic medal standings, calls for added investment

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Canadian Paralympic Committee CEO Karen O'Neill acknowledged Canada's showing at the Milan Cortina Paralympics wasn't the same as past years.

Canada finished eighth in the gold-medal standings with just three. As for total medals, Canada placed sixth (four silver, eight bronze). In comparison, Canada had 25 medals, with eight golds, at the 2022 Beijing Games, finishing third in the gold-medal standings for the fourth consecutive Paralympics.

O'Neill was quick to say how proud she was of the group, while also citing factors such as "accidents and injuries," along with Russia being back in the fold. The Russians earned 12 medals, with eight gold — only China (15 gold) and the United States (13 gold) finished ahead.

"A little bit different but still really, really pleased with how the team has done," O'Neill said. "I would say it's also testimony to how quickly and how evolving the competitive level is around the world for the Paralympics right now.

Read
Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Natalie Wilkie competes for Canada in the Cross Country Ski Mixed Relay at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme on Saturday, March 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE, Michael P. Hall

Natalie Wilkie competes for Canada in the Cross Country Ski Mixed Relay at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme on Saturday, March 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE, Michael P. Hall

Canada earns Paralympic silver after 6-2 loss to U.S. in hockey; Eriksson adds bronze

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada earns Paralympic silver after 6-2 loss to U.S. in hockey; Eriksson adds bronze

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

MILAN - Devastation is the feeling for Liam Hickey.

The Para ice hockey star scored both of Canada's goals but the team settled for silver with a 6-2 loss to the United States on Sunday in the final event of the Milan Cortina Paralympics. It's the third straight Paralympic final Canada has lost, all to the U.S., which won its fifth straight gold.

"We're devastated right now," Hickey said. "A lot of us have trained our whole lives for this. We're still chasing that gold medal. Not being able to get it done right now, again, stinks pretty bad.

"We helped the U.S. out, if anything, on a few of those goals. With a team like that, you can't give them that momentum. And we were confident in how we played for the most part as a team. But that killed us in the end."

Read
Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Corbin Watson during the match against USA in the Para ice hockey final at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan, Italy on March 15, 2026. // THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE, , Matteo Cogliati

Corbin Watson  during the match against USA in the Para ice hockey final at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan, Italy on March 15, 2026. // THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE, , Matteo Cogliati

Wilkie, Ideson named Canada’s flag bearers for Paralympics closing ceremony

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Wilkie, Ideson named Canada’s flag bearers for Paralympics closing ceremony

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO - Para nordic skier Natalie Wilkie and wheelchair curler Mark Ideson have been named Canada’s closing ceremony flag bearers for the Milan Cortina Paralympics, the Canadian Paralympic Committee announced Saturday.

Wilkie, from Salmon Arm, B.C., has earned four medals (two gold, one silver, one bronze) in her third Paralympics. She still has one race remaining on Sunday morning, the Para cross-country 20 kilometres.

The 25-year-old now has 11 Paralympic medals to her name (five gold, three silvers, three bronze). 

She is the first Canadian athlete to be selected to be both opening and closing ceremony flag bearer at the same Paralympic Games.

Read
Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Natalie Wilkie receives her gold medal for the 12.5km Individual Biathlon at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme on Sunday March 8, 2026. // Le 8 mars 2026, Natalie Wilkie reçoit la médaille d'or de l’épreuve individuelle de de biathlon 12,5 km aux Jeux paralympiques d’hiver de 2026 à Val di Fiemme. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout – CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE-Michael P. Hall (Mandatory Credit)

Natalie Wilkie receives her gold medal for the 12.5km Individual Biathlon at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Val di Fiemme on Sunday March 8, 2026. // Le 8 mars 2026, Natalie Wilkie reçoit la médaille d'or de l’épreuve individuelle de de biathlon 12,5 km aux Jeux paralympiques d’hiver de 2026 à Val di Fiemme. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout – CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE-Michael P. Hall (Mandatory Credit)

Canadian sit-skier Kurt Oatway goes for one medal after long road back to Paralympics

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Canadian sit-skier Kurt Oatway goes for one medal after long road back to Paralympics

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

It's simply competition. And Kurt Oatway's desire is just to win and improve.

"It is a bigger race, it's a more important race, but at the end of the day it's just a race," he said of the Paralympics.

But the journey to being a two-time Paralympic medallist in Para alpine sit-skiing started from a place of nostalgia for the 42-year-old from Calgary.

"Just sitting at home watching the 2010 Vancouver Games and watching the alpine events and getting a little nostalgic about skiing," he said. "... At the time I was still doing outpatient rehab at a hospital in Saskatoon and the physiotherapist was like trying to find ideas of trying to get more active and she suggested Nordic skiing. 

Read
Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Kurt Oatway, of Canada, competes in the alpine skiing men's downhill sitting competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Kurt Oatway, of Canada, competes in the alpine skiing men's downhill sitting competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Canadian wheelchair curling team wins gold with 4-3 triumph over China at Paralympics

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Canadian wheelchair curling team wins gold with 4-3 triumph over China at Paralympics

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO - Mark Ideson finished the job and ended the run of bronze.

The skip from London, Ont., made the winning play as Canada's wheelchair curling team defeated China 4-3 to win gold at the Milan Cortina Paralympics on Saturday. It's the first gold medal in the event for Canada since 2014 after back-to-back bronze in 2018 and 2022.

"I would say the Cardiac Canadians is fitting," he said of his rink's nickname from the Games. "We seemed to put it all together at the end. Thanks to everyone for watching at home.

"It was an incredible week and amazing to finish it off."

Read
Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Jon Thurston, of Canada, reacts during the wheelchair curling mixed team gold medal game versus China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Jon Thurston, of Canada, reacts during the wheelchair curling mixed team gold medal game versus China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Canada to face U.S. with sights set on first Paralympic ice hockey gold in 20 years

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada to face U.S. with sights set on first Paralympic ice hockey gold in 20 years

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Tyler McGregor has experienced all the team success there is to gain in para ice hockey.

Except for one thing: a Paralympic gold medal.

Canada's captain, from Forest, Ont., has been a fixture on the team since 2012. In that time, he has won three world championships (2013, 2017, 2024), two Paralympic silver medals (2018, 2022) and a Paralympic bronze (2014).

"I wouldn't even know how to properly define that," he said of the possibility of Canada winning gold in Italy. "It would mean the world to me. I've been a part of this like Paralympic journey now for coming up on I guess 14, 15 years or whatever. And it's something that we've been chasing this whole time that's eluded us and we've been close.

Read
Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026

Liam Hickey, Tyler McGregor celebrate the goal against China in the Para ice hockey semifinal at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan, Italy on March 13, 2026. .THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout – CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE, , Matteo Cogliati

Liam Hickey, Tyler McGregor celebrate the goal against China in the Para ice hockey semifinal at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan, Italy on March 13, 2026. .THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout – CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE, , Matteo Cogliati

LOAD MORE