World Athletics Enforces Genetic Testing for Women's Competition Eligibility

The International Athletics Federation, known as World Athletics, has announced a groundbreaking regulation that will require female athletes to undergo genetic testing to compete in women's categories at major sporting events. This requirement is set to take effect on September 1, 2023, just before the world championships commence on September 13 in Tokyo, Japan. The purpose of the genetic test is to determine an athlete's biological sex by detecting the presence of the SRY gene, which is associated with the Y chromosome and typically indicates male characteristics (XY) as opposed to female ones (XX). For athletes wishing to compete at the world level, it will be mandatory to receive a negative result from the test. Should the results reveal the presence of the SRY gene, the athletes will be barred from competing in women's categories at world events but will still have the option to participate in non-world level competitions or alternative categories. The testing process can be conducted easily, using either an oral swab or a blood test. World Athletics has stated that the responsibility of adhering to this new protocol will fall on the affiliated federations. Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, emphasized the necessity of establishing biological female status at this level of competition, asserting that biology must take precedence over gender identity. This new rule comes after years of contentious debate surrounding eligibility criteria for female athletes in both athletics and sports in general. Currently, World Athletics's regulations prohibit transgender women who have experienced male puberty from entering international competitions. Additionally, a ruling imposes that athletes with differences in sexual development must maintain their testosterone levels below a certain threshold to qualify for women's competitions. One high-profile case that has brought significant attention to these issues is that of South African runner Caster Semenya. Semenya challenged the regulations imposed by World Athletics back in 2019 but ultimately lost her case. In a recent development, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Switzerland did not provide Semenya a fair trial concerning her legal struggles against these controversial rules. The decision to introduce mandatory genetic testing was approved by World Athletics in March of this year, while the World Boxing Federation has also started implementing similar measures in May. The enforcement of these regulations marks a significant and potentially divisive moment in the realm of competitive sports, raising critical questions about gender, biology, and the future of women's athletics. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2