World Athletics introduces mandatory one-time gene testing for female athletes

Rules requiring all competitors in women’s categories at world-ranking events to undergo a one-time genetic test come into effect this week, World Athletics has confirmed, Sport360NG reporrts.

The global governing body says the measure, which checks for the presence of the Y chromosome, is aimed at protecting the integrity of female competition, reigniting one of the most sensitive debates in sport.

What does the test identify?

The test screens for the SRY gene, located on the Y chromosome, which triggers the development of male traits in embryos with XY chromosomes. The gene drives the formation of testes, which in turn produce testosterone, increasing muscle mass and strength.

Athletes with differences of sex development (DSD), rare conditions where genes, hormones or reproductive anatomy may combine male and female characteristics, are the main focus. In some cases, individuals may be registered and raised as female despite carrying XY chromosomes and internal testes.

How is it carried out?

National federations will conduct the test once in an athlete’s lifetime, either through a cheek swab or blood sample. If no Y chromosome is detected, the athlete remains eligible to compete in women’s events.

Where results show XY chromosomes, eligibility depends on the nature of the condition. For example, those with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) who never underwent male puberty may still be cleared. Others, unless falling into very limited exemptions, would be barred from competing in female categories.

How many athletes have been tested?

World Athletics says over 90% of competitors scheduled for this month’s World Championships have already been tested, with the remaining cases to be completed in Tokyo. Some athletes faced logistical hurdles: in countries like France and Norway, non-medical genetic testing is banned, forcing samples to be processed abroad. A group of Canadians even had to be retested after a technical error with swabs.

Why now?

The issue of gender eligibility has dominated track and field since 2009, when South Africa’s Caster Semenya won the 800m world title. Semenya was later identified as having a DSD condition, sparking debate after she continued to dominate.

Following years of legal battles and controversy, World Athletics tightened rules in 2023. Transgender women who had experienced male puberty were excluded from women’s events, while DSD athletes faced stricter testosterone-suppression requirements across all disciplines.

A working group subsequently recommended genetic testing, arguing that testosterone reduction alone could not fully offset physiological advantages. Governing body president Lord Coe described the SRY gene as “a reliable marker of biological sex,” insisting women must be able to compete “without a biological glass ceiling.”

How are other sports responding?

World Boxing has introduced similar rules, requiring competitors in women’s divisions to undergo SRY testing. This follows controversy at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting won gold despite previous disqualifications under the IBA for failing gender checks.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has historically resisted broad sex verification, citing risks of stigma and discrimination. However, after the boxing row in Paris, calls for wider adoption have grown. New IOC president Kirsty Coventry has hinted at openness to harmonised rules, while U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged some form of sex testing for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Has this been tried before?

Gender verification has a chequered history. In the 1960s, female athletes were subjected to visual inspections before chromosome-based tests were introduced. Several cases of “false positives” led to accusations of unfair treatment, and routine testing was abandoned in the 1990s.

World Athletics insists today’s technology is highly accurate, with minimal risk of error.

Reaction and concerns

According to Lord Coe, most athletes have welcomed the policy. Advocacy group Sex Matters called it “overdue,” arguing all sports should follow suit.

But critics warn of ethical and scientific flaws. Professor Andrew Sinclair, who discovered the SRY gene, has described the policy as “misguided,” saying the test oversimplifies biological sex. Former Olympian and sociologist Madeleine Pape warned it could unintentionally expose athletes with DSDs who were unaware of their condition.

Some athletes, like U.S. runner Nikki Hiltz, argue the measure sets a “worrying precedent” and that funds would be better spent tackling doping or abusive coaching.

World Athletics says any positive result will be followed by further medical assessment, and privacy will be safeguarded through encrypted platforms and appeal rights at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Could legal challenges follow?

Legal disputes appear likely. Caster Semenya has already fought World Athletics in court, most recently winning a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights in 2023, which found she was denied a fair hearing in earlier appeals.

For now, athletics’ governing body insists its policy respects international human rights law. But the balance between fairness, inclusion and ethics is far from settled, and the debate over who should be eligible to compete in women’s sport shows no sign of easing.