Breaking News - World Athletics Unveils Genetic Testing for Women’s Events
March 26, 2025 – World Athletics has dropped a game-changing policy that’s sure to spark headlines and heated debates: a mandatory, one-time genetic test for all athletes competing in women’s events. The target? The SRY gene, a key marker on the Y chromosome tied to male sex development. This move aims to confirm biological sex and address the ongoing storm over transgender athletes and those with differences of sex development (DSD) who may hold testosterone-driven advantages.
Lord Sebastian Coe, World Athletics president, is standing firm. “This is about safeguarding the integrity of competition,” he said, stressing the tests’ simplicity—think cheek swabs or dry blood spots, no invasive procedures required. The plan is straightforward: ensure only athletes who haven’t experienced male puberty or its testosterone boosts compete in the female category. One test per career, executed to rigorous medical standards, and that’s it.
This isn’t World Athletics’ first swing at the gender eligibility issue. In 2023, they barred transgender women from female events if they’d gone through male puberty, a decision that lit up the sports world. Earlier still, DSD athletes faced testosterone-lowering mandates for certain races—rules that triggered lawsuits and ethical clashes. Now, with genetic testing, World Athletics is refining its approach, aiming to level the playing field in women’s sports once and for all.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), long opposed to sex testing, might be shifting gears under new leadership, watching this policy with keen interest. Critics warn of a slippery slope—how far can biology dictate competition? Supporters, though, hail it as a fair-play win. Either way, the athletics landscape just got a major shake-up, and the finish line for this debate is nowhere in sight. Buckle up—this one’s going the distance.
