Female Athletes Now Required To Take Gene Test Before Competing In World Athletics Championships

World Athletics has officially introduced a mandatory gene test for all athletes who wish to compete in the female category at global track and field events.

This decision follows the controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Though she was born and raised as a girl, Khelif found herself at the center of debate after being ruled out of the 2023 World Championships for failing an unspecified gender eligibility test.

Despite that setback, Khelif was later allowed to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games. At the time, the Olympic Committee defended her participation, emphasizing that "every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination."

In response to recent debates, World Athletics has announced that a new testing rule will apply to athletes aiming to compete in female events under their authority.

According to a press release issued on July 30, the World Athletics Council has approved the regulation, which states: "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 test will involve a cheek swab or blood sample Getty Stock Photo

The updated regulations are scheduled to take effect starting September 1. This date is just ahead of the World Athletics Championships, which begin in Tokyo on September 13.

Member Federations will be responsible for overseeing the testing process as national teams get ready for the upcoming global event.

Sharing his thoughts on the new rules and the SRY testing policy, 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."

The new rules come into place before the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images

Continuing his statement, Coe added: "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 official announcement also lays out the eligibility criteria for the female category. This includes biological females, biological males who haven’t undergone male sexual development or any stage of male puberty, and biological males with differences in sex development who meet the transitional guidelines set 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 statement continues.

It also clarifies that the transitional provisions outlined in the new policy do not apply to transgender women, since there are currently no transgender athletes competing at the elite international level under the existing rules.