Overview

• World Athletics has introduced mandatory genetic testing for female athletes, requiring a one-time cheek swab or dry blood spot test to confirm biological sex.
• The testing will verify the presence of the SRY gene, a marker for male biological sex, and is intended to maintain the integrity of women's sports.
• The policy builds on the organization's 2023 ban on transgender women who have undergone male puberty and reflects new evidence of performance gaps between sexes even before puberty.
• World Athletics plans to finalize regulations and select a testing provider in the coming weeks, with the goal of implementing the policy before the Tokyo World Championships in September 2025.
• The decision has reignited debates over fairness and inclusion, particularly concerning its impact on athletes with differences in sex development (DSD), but World Athletics remains confident in its legal defensibility.