A new policy alert issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Monday outlines how the change will impact foreign athletes seeking entry into the United States for competitive sports.

According to the alert, USCIS will now consider whether a biological male athlete has competed in women’s categories as a negative factor when determining whether the applicant qualifies as being among the “very top of the field” a requirement under specific O-1 and P-1 visa classifications for elite athletes.

Executive Order Driving the Change

The policy shift follows President Trump’s executive order signed earlier this year, which mandates that U.S. immigration and sports authorities enforce sex-based protections in athletics, particularly for female and youth sports categories.

Trump’s administration has argued that allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports “undermines fair competition” and creates disadvantages for women and girls. Critics argue the new policy discriminates against transgender individuals and risks politicizing sports and immigration decisions.

Impact on International Competitions

This new rule could affect international athletes seeking to compete in U.S.-based tournaments, including the Olympics, professional leagues, and college-level sports. Advocacy groups for transgender athletes have condemned the measure, while supporters of the executive order view it as a step toward protecting biological women’s sports categories.

“This is about fairness and biology,” a senior USCIS official told reporters anonymously. “Athletes entering the U.S. to compete should not have an unfair advantage in women’s events.”

Ongoing Debate Over Gender and Sports

The move reignites the broader cultural and legal debate over transgender participation in sports, an issue that has divided lawmakers, athletic organizations, and the public in recent years.

Several U.S. states have already enacted similar bans or restrictions at the school and collegiate levels. Now, the federal government’s immigration policy appears to be taking cues from those state led efforts, applying them to non-citizens and foreign athletes.

Schreiner, who previously competed on a men’s collegiate track team, sought to enter a women’s race at Princeton’s Larry Ellis Invitational. When officials excluded Schreiner from the event, it was due to clear and justified policies aimed at preserving the integrity of women’s sports.

The lawsuit alleges discrimination based on gender identity, but the reality is that biological differences between males and females create an uneven playing field that cannot be ignored. Allowing male-bodied athletes to compete in women’s sports not only disadvantages female competitors but also threatens the progress made toward equality and opportunity in athletics.

Claims that Schreiner was subjected to a “humiliating, dehumanising” experience ignore the fact that sports must be governed by fair rules, not feelings or political agendas. Princeton and the event organisers acted within their rights to maintain a level competition environment.

This lawsuit is part of a broader push to dismantle women’s sports protections under the guise of inclusion. Policies and executive orders supporting male participation in female athletics have sparked significant backlash because they ignore science and compromise women’s chances to compete on equal footing.

Recent controversies, such as swimmer Lia Thomas’ dominance in women’s swimming after competing on men’s teams, highlight why safeguards are necessary. Even federal courts and the Supreme Court are grappling with these issues because the stakes for female athletes are real.

Female athletes and advocates are speaking out against these moves, emphasising that fairness and safety must come first. The injury suffered by volleyball player Payton McNabb during competition against a male-bodied athlete competing as a woman underscores the physical risks involved.

Ultimately, Schreiner’s lawsuit threatens to erode the foundation of women’s sports, prioritising identity politics over biological reality and fair competition.

Though the match itself is taking place in Munich, authorities are preparing for potential large-scale celebrations — and possible unrest — in the French capital should PSG win.

In response to recent events, including an incident in Liverpool where a car struck football fans, traffic restrictions will be enforced around key areas of Paris. Access around the Arc de Triomphe will be blocked from midday, and the Champs-Élysées along with surrounding streets will be closed later in the evening.

Earlier this month, celebrations following PSG’s victory over Arsenal, which earned them a spot in the final, turned chaotic, resulting in 47 arrests and three people being injured by a car.

Starting at 6 p.m. local time on Saturday, vehicles will be barred from entering the Champs-Élysées and adjacent streets. Authorities emphasised a zero-tolerance approach to vandalism and looting, warning that any violence or attacks on officers will be met with immediate police action.

The city’s mayor, Kai Wegner, plans to unveil a bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with support from four other German states, at a presentation scheduled for Tuesday at Berlin’s historic Olympic stadium.

Although the official announcement didn’t specify which edition of the Games Berlin is targeting, the earliest upcoming opportunity coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1936 Olympics. The German Olympic Sports Confederation has also indicated that a bid for the 2040 Games could be under consideration.

Los Angeles is set to host the 2028 Olympics, followed by Brisbane in 2032.

The neighboring states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Schleswig-Holstein would participate in hosting events as part of Berlin’s proposal.

The Olympiastadion, originally constructed for the 1936 Games, remains a key sports venue in the city. Its design and construction were influenced by Adolf Hitler after the Nazis came to power in 1933, two years after Berlin was awarded the Games.

Though initially hesitant about hosting, Hitler embraced the event’s value for propaganda, commissioning filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl to capture the Games in the documentary Olympia.

Today, the Olympiastadion continues to be used for major events, including last year’s European Championship soccer final between Spain and England. It also serves as the home ground for Hertha Berlin and is set to host the German Cup final this weekend between Stuttgart and Arminia Bielefeld.