Gene Testing for Female Category Eligibility

TRACK and field athletes wishing to compete in the female category at elite competitions will be required to undergo a genetic test starting in September, as announced by World Athletics.

This testing will be implemented in time for the world championships scheduled in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe stated: “It is vital in a sport that consistently seeks to engage more women that they participate with the assurance that there is no biological glass ceiling.

“Confirming biological sex through testing is a crucial step in ensuring this assurance.”

The test for the SRY gene, which is linked to the Y chromosome and is responsible for the development of male characteristics, can be conducted via a cheek swab or a blood test.

If an athlete tests negative for the Y chromosome, they are permitted to compete in the female category in world ranking events.

Conversely, if the test is positive, they may only enter the female category in non-world ranking events or compete in a different category altogether. The member federations will administer the test.

World Athletics assures that the test is “extremely accurate,” emphasizing that “the chances of false negatives or positives are exceedingly low.”

The SRY test has also been adopted by World Boxing, which implemented mandatory sex testing for all participants this year.

Coe further commented: “At the elite level, for an individual to compete in the female category, they must be biologically female.”