World Athletics has announced the introduction of mandatory genetic testing for all female athletes competing at international championships, in a move aimed at reinforcing eligibility rules for the women’s category. Starting this September, female athletes will be required to undergo a one time cheek swab or blood test to detect the presence of the SRY gene, the gene responsible for initiating male sex development.
The decision, confirmed by World Athletics this week, marks a significant tightening of regulations around sex verification in elite sport. Athletes wishing to participate in the women’s events at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo will be subject to the new protocol, which will be enforced by national federations.
“It is really important in a sport that is permanently trying to attract more women that they enter a sport believing there is no biological glass ceiling,” said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe.
The SRY gene test, used in the past during the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, was later discontinued by the International Olympic Committee due to concerns over its potential discriminatory impact, particularly on women with differences of sexual development (DSD). However, World Athletics has defended the accuracy and necessity of the test, stating it is “extremely accurate” and the chances of a false result are “extremely unlikely.”
Under the new rules, athletes who test positive for the SRY gene will be ineligible to compete in the women’s category at World Athletics-sanctioned events. Those who refuse the test will also be barred from participating in world ranking competitions, though they may still compete in alternative non-ranked events.
World Athletics emphasised that any athlete wishing to challenge the results will have the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The policy is the latest outcome from the federation’s Gender Diverse Athlete Working Group, which was established in 2023 following the ban on transgender athletes from competing in international female events. The working group conducted a year-long review of legal, scientific, and societal developments relating to gender diverse participation in sport.
The group concluded that testosterone suppression “can only ever partly mitigate the overall male advantage in the sport of athletics,” and recommended aligning the rules for transgender and DSD athletes. Under current DSD regulations, athletes must lower their testosterone to below a set threshold for at least six months before being eligible to compete in international women’s events.
The new gene test requirement is expected to further sharpen the distinction between male and female competition categories as World Athletics seeks to balance inclusivity with fairness in elite sport.
