World Athletics has introduced a new regulation requiring all athletes wishing to compete in the elite female category to undergo and pass a one-time genetic test for the SRY gene. This gene, which is present on the Y chromosome, is a scientific marker used to determine biological sex. The test, which can be conducted through either a cheek swab or blood sample, will be overseen by individual member federations. This move will officially come into effect on September 1, ahead of the World Athletics Championships scheduled for September 13–21 in Tokyo.
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World Athletics President Sebastian Coe emphasized the importance of this step, stating that the integrity of women’s competition must be preserved by ensuring that all athletes competing in the female category are biologically female. He added that “gender cannot trump biology,” and that this regulation will help create a level playing field for women in sport. According to Coe, attracting more women to athletics depends on offering them a fair and biologically appropriate competitive environment, free from what he called a “biological glass ceiling.”
This policy comes after years of controversy and ongoing debate over the eligibility of transgender women and athletes with differences of sex development (DSD) in women’s sports. Currently, World Athletics does not allow transgender women who have experienced male puberty to compete in women’s events. Female DSD athletes are required to medically lower their testosterone levels to qualify for participation. However, a recent review by a working group concluded that these measures were not strict enough, and they recommended more robust safeguards—one of which was the implementation of the SRY gene test.
The regulation has already seen support from other sports organizations, including World Boxing, which in May approved mandatory sex testing for all its athletes. The global sports community continues to grapple with the balance between inclusion and fairness, but this decision by World Athletics represents one of the clearest stances taken so far in this ongoing debate.
Earlier this month, the issue resurfaced when the European Court upheld a previous ruling related to Caster Semenya, the two-time Olympic 800-meter champion. Semenya, who has DSD, had challenged World Athletics regulations that required her and other athletes with similar conditions to medically reduce their testosterone levels. The court determined that Semenya’s appeal had not been properly heard by the Swiss Federal Tribunal, further highlighting the complexity and sensitivity surrounding these cases.
World Athletics maintains that its new rule is not aimed at exclusion but at protecting the female category and ensuring equal opportunity for all women competing at the highest levels. By introducing a clear, science-based method for sex verification, the organization aims to eliminate ambiguity and reinforce confidence among female athletes. While the policy is expected to face criticism and legal scrutiny, officials believe it will strengthen the integrity of women’s sport moving forward.
