World Athletics has confirmed the introduction of a gene test to be taken by anyone hoping to compete in the female category at world ranking athletics competitions.
The announcement comes months after contention surrounded Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who was born and raised as a girl but was forced to defend herself after being disqualified from the 2023 World Championships for failing an unspecified gender eligibility test.
Khelif was, however, allowed to compete in the 2024 Olympic games, with the Olympic Committee saying at the time that 'every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination'.
Now, officials at World Athletics have announced a new test for their sports which any athletes wishing to compete in the female category will have to undergo.
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In a press release shared on July 30, World Athletics announced that its council had approved the regulations, which state: "All athletes wishing to compete in the female category at the World Championships are required to undergo a once-in-a-lifetime test for the SRY gene – a reliable proxy for determining biological sex.
"This is to be conducted via a cheek swab or blood test, whichever is more convenient."
The new rules are set to come into effect on September 1, just days before the World Athletics Championships kick off in Tokyo on September 13.
The testing is set to be overseen by Member Federations as teams prepare for the upcoming championship.
Commenting on the new regulations and SRY test, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: “The philosophy that we hold dear in World Athletics is the protection and the promotion of the integrity of women's sport. 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.
"The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case."
Coe continued: “We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female. It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology.
“We particularly want to thank our Member Federations for their support and commitment in the implementation of these new regulations.”
The release includes parameters for its female category, including biological females, biological males who have 'not gone through male sexual development including any type of male puberty', and biological males 'with a difference of sex development who satisfy the transitional provisions issued by World Athletics'.
"Biological females who have used testosterone as part of male gender-affirming treatment further to a Therapeutic Use Exemption granted in accordance with World Athletics’ Anti-Doping Rules may not compete in the female category until the passing of a period of time after their last use of testosterone," the release continues.
It adds that the transitional provisions do not apply to transgender women, as there are none competing at the elite international level under the current regulations.
Topics: Sport, Health, World News
Emily Brown