The New Olympic Policy on Protection of the Female — Discussing Differences in Sex Differentiation (DSD)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In March of 2026, the International Olympic Committee released a new policy on the Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sports. This new policy is applicable to the 2028 Olympic Games to be hosted in Los Angeles and onward and is not being applied retroactively or to any grassroots or recreational sports programs. But what does this new policy address and how what should we think about this. I have a longtime friend and mentor as my guest today who will help us work through this topic.

Connect with The Host!

Subscribe to This Podcast Now!

The ultimate success for every podcaster – is FEEDBACK! Be sure to take just a few minutes to tell the hosts of this podcast what YOU think over at Apple Podcasts! It takes only a few minutes but helps the hosts of this program pave the way to future greatness!

Not an Apple Podcasts user? No problem! Be sure to check out any of the other many growing podcast directories online to find this and many other podcasts via The Podcaster Matrix!

Housekeeping

— Get the whole story about Dr. Mark and his launch into this program, by listing to his “101” episode that’ll get you educated, caught up and in tune with the Doctor that’s in the podcast house! Listen Now!

— Interested in being a Guest on The Pediatric Sports Medicine Podcast? Connect with Mark today!

Links from this Episode:

— Dr. Mark Halstead: On the Web — On X

— David Allen, MD Profile https://www.uwhealth.org/providers/david-b-allen-md

Publications/Milestones https://www.pediatrics.wisc.edu/staff/allen-david/

IOC New 2026 Policy on Protection of Female (Women) Category in Olympic Sports https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/international-olympic-committee-announces-new-policy-on-the-protection-of-the-female-women-s-category-in-olympic-sport

Rupert JL. Genitals to genes: the history and biology of gender verification in the Olympics. Can Bull Med Hist. 2011;28(2):339-65. doi: 10.3138/cbmh.28.2.339. PMID: 22164600. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22164600/

Calls to the Audience Inside this Episode:

— Be sure to interact with the host, send detailed feedback via our customized form and connect via ALL of our social media platforms! Do that over here now!

— Interested in being a guest inside The Pediatric Sports Medicine Podcast with Dr. Mark? Tell us now!

— Ready to share your business, organization or efforts message with Dr. Mark’s focused audience? Let’s have a chat!

— Do you have feedback you’d like to share with Dr. Mark from this episode? Share YOUR perspective!

Be an Advertiser/Sponsor for This Program!

Tell Us What You Think!

Feedback is the cornerstone and engine of all great podcast. Be sure to chime in with your thoughts, perspective sand more. Share your insight and experiences with Dr. Mark by clicking here!

The Host of this Program:

Mark Halstead:

Dr. Mark Halstead received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin Medical School. He stayed at the University of Wisconsin for his pediatric residency, followed by a year as the chief resident. Following residency, he completed a pediatric and adult sports medicine fellowship at Vanderbilt University. He has been an elected member to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness and the Board of Directors of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM). He has served as a team physician or medical consultant to numerous high schools, Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, Washington University, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis Athletica, and St. Louis Rams. He serves and has served on many local, regional and national committees as an advisor for sports medicine and concussions. Dr. Halstead is a national recognized expert in sport-related concussions and pediatric sports medicine.

— Dr. Mark Halstead on Facebook
— Dr. Mark Halstead on LinkedIn
— Dr. Mark Halstead on X
— Learn Why The Pediatric Sports Medicine Podcast Exists…

The Guest Featured Inside this Program:

David Allen

David B. Allen, MD, is Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes and Director of the Endocrinology and Diabetes Fellowship Program at the University of Wisconsin American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison. He graduated from Stanford University with honors in humanities and biology, obtained his MD degree from Duke University School of Medicine, and completed pediatric residency, chief residency, and a fellowship training at the University of Wisconsin. He is the recipient of numerous awards for excellence in education, clinical care, and academic leadership, most notably the ACGME Parker Palmer “Courage to Teach” national award, the University of Wisconsin Presidential Physician Leadership Award, the Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association Career Citation Award, the University of Wisconsin Clinical Educator Award, and the Judson Van Wyk Prize for outstanding career achievement given by the Pediatric Endocrine Society.

Dr. Allen served as Director of the UW Pediatric Residency Program from 1993-2007 and as Program Director of the UW Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Fellowship since 2003. On the national level, Dr. Allen was elected Director (2000-2003) and then President (2010-2011) of the Pediatric Endocrine Society. He served as Chair of the Wisconsin Endocrine Newborn Screening Committee from 1991-2015, and as member of the American Board of Pediatrics sub-board for Pediatric Endocrinology 2010-2015. He is an editorial reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed journals, served as editorial board member for the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism and Associate Editor for the International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology. On the international level, Dr. Allen was selected to Chair the Organizing Committee for and then serve as President of the 2017 10th International Meeting of Pediatric Endocrinology.

His research interests have included innovative use of human growth hormone to restore normal growth and increase physical function in children with glucocorticoid-induced growth suppression and with Prader-Willi syndrome. He has also led studies of childhood adipose organ development and dysfunction, improving fitness and insulin sensitivity to prevent diabetes onset in children, improving newborn screening programs for endocrine disorders, and preventing and assessing systemic effects of inhaled corticosteroids. Throughout his career, Dr. Allen has also spoken and published extensively about issues of ethics and cost-effectiveness in the treatment of disorders of childhood growth. He has written more than 240 articles, letters, monographs, and book chapters, edited 4 textbooks, and has presented at more than 180 regional, national, and international meetings.

Dr. Allen’s personal interests include improvisational jazz piano and providing philanthropic music for local charities and missions. He is an avid cyclist, skier, and runner (two-time US Olympic Marathon trials qualifier with a PR of 2 hours 17 minutes) and most importantly, a doting grandfather.

Listed in: Pediatric Sports Medicine Podcast