World Athletics introduces gene test for female category

According to governing body World Athletics, athletes who want to compete in the female category for world rankings starting in September will need to take a one-time gene test.

The World Athletics Championships, which will take place from September 13 to September 21, will be held in Tokyo following the adoption of the new rules.

A cheek swab or blood test can be used to determine the presence of the SRY gene, which is a part of the Y chromosome and controls the development of male characteristics.

The athlete is eligible to compete in the female category if the Y chromosome test results negative.

If the rankings are favorable, they may enter competitions for female status in other categories besides the female one.

Member federations will oversee the testing, which must be taken once every lifetime.

The test is described as being “extremely accurate” and states that “the risk of false negative or positive is extremely unlikely” in a frequently asked questions page published by World Athletics.

In May, the SRY test was mandated for all athletes, and World Boxing also approved the use of it.

We are recommending that you must be biologically female in order to compete in the female category at the highest level, according to Coe.

“Gender cannot override biology,” I and the World Athletics Council always understood.

We want to thank each of our member federations for their assistance and commitment to putting these new rules into practice.

In March, World Athletics approved the introduction of a biologically female test.

The World Athletics Council meeting that month approved one of several suggestions to tighten rules governing transgender and difference of sex development (DSD) athletes’ eligibility.

In March 2023, World Athletics forbids transgender athletes from competing in the female category in international competition.

After finding new evidence that “testosterone suppression” can only ever partially reduce the overall male advantage in the sport of athletics, a working group also suggested that World Athletics merge regulations for both DSD and transgender athletes.

To compete in any female category event internationally, DSD athletes were required to reduce their testosterone levels to a set level for at least six months under the current regulations.

The Swiss Federal Supreme Court earlier in July upheld Caster Semenya’s claim that the two-time Olympic gold medalist had violated her right to a fair hearing when she lost an appeal against World Athletics regulations that had effectively barred her from competing.

Semenya, 34, was born with DSD, and has been unable to compete in 800 meters since 2019, when World Athletics imposed regulations limiting the range of testosterone levels in track competitions from 400 meters to the mile.