Legendary sportscaster Bob Costas is speaking out following a major decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), defending a new policy that limits women’s Olympic competition to biological females and emphasizing what he called a need for “common sense.”

Costas, long known as a trusted voice of Olympic coverage, addressed the issue during a recent appearance on CNN, where he responded to criticism surrounding the IOC’s updated guidelines. While acknowledging the broader cultural debate, he made it clear he believes the decision is rooted in fairness rather than politics.

“Common sense is not transphobic,” Costas said. “There’s a reason why there are men’s and women’s sports.”

The IOC’s new policy, announced this week, will apply across all Olympic sports ahead of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. It requires eligibility for women’s events to be determined through SRY gene screening—a form of genetic testing used to identify male sex development. According to the IOC, this method provides “highly accurate evidence” and is considered less intrusive than other testing approaches.

The move builds on policies already adopted by several individual sports, including swimming, cycling, and track and field, which had previously restricted participation by transgender athletes who experienced male puberty. The updated rule now creates a unified standard across all Olympic competitions.

Costas argued that the distinction between men’s and women’s sports has always been grounded in biological differences, not discrimination. He pointed to real-world comparisons to illustrate his perspective, noting that athletic divisions exist across levels of competition for a reason.

“If Caitlin Clark could play in the NBA, everybody would applaud it,” he said. “But if the last guy on the bench of an NBA team went to the WNBA and started averaging 40 points, everyone would know that is BS.”

At the same time, Costas emphasized that his stance is not about demeaning individuals. He cautioned against what he described as the “demonizing” of transgender athletes and called for compassion alongside clarity.

“If that’s what the person wants to do, that person should be treated with dignity and respect,” he said. “But there ought to be common sense.”

He also referenced the legacy of Title IX, the landmark U.S. law that expanded opportunities for women in education and athletics, calling it “one of the truly progressive pieces of legislation” that reshaped sports for generations of female athletes.

For many Christian readers, the conversation touches on deeper questions about truth, identity, and fairness. Scripture calls believers to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), holding conviction and compassion in tension. As debates like this continue to unfold on the global stage, voices like Costas’ highlight the challenge of navigating complex cultural issues while upholding both justice and human dignity.

The IOC’s decision is likely to remain a point of ongoing discussion as the 2028 Olympics approach, but for now, it marks a significant shift in how international sports governing bodies define fairness in women’s competition.