Genetic Testing for Female Athletes Now Required for Major World…

Some major changes are on the horizon for international athletic competitions.

The World Athletics Council said on Wednesday that all female athletes who aim to compete in women's events will be required to undergo a one-time genetic test for the SRY gene, “a reliable proxy for determining biological sex,” a press release said. The test can be conducted via a cheek swab or drawing blood and will, The Guardian reports, be overseen by member 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,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said. “The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case.”

“We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female,” he continued. “It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology.”

@worldathletics Sha’Carri Richardson anchors the 🇺🇸 to gold in the women’s 4x100m 😤 #WorldAthleticsChamps #track #athletics #usa ♬ son original - WorldAthletics

The new regulations go into effect September 1, just days before the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo begin on September 13.

World Athletics governs the sport of athletics, which covers track and field, cross country running, road running, and race walking, among other events. It organize the World Athletics Championships, a biennial competition that athletes like Sha'Carri Richardson have competed in.

This isn’t the first time World Athletics has introduced stringent rules around gender and sex. In 2023, the organization banned transgender women from competing in the female categories if they’ve gone through “male puberty.”

“Decisions are always difficult when they involve conflicting needs and rights between different groups, but we continue to take the view that we must maintain fairness for female athletes above all other considerations,” Coe said at the time. “As more evidence becomes available, we will review our position, but we believe the integrity of the female category in athletics is paramount."

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