New Testing Rules To Protect Womens Sports

World Athletics Mandates Genetic Testing for Female Athletes Ahead of 2028 Olympics

By Marie o’Nealle

Lausanne, Switzerland - In a landmark and controversial move, World Athletics announced on Tuesday that all female athletes will now be required to undergo a one-time genetic test to confirm their eligibility to compete in women’s events. The governing body stated the measure is designed to “protect the integrity of the female category” ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The test will specifically screen for the presence of the SRY gene, a genetic marker found on the Y chromosome that plays a critical role in male sex differentiation. According to World Athletics, the presence of this gene will disqualify an athlete from participating in women’s events, regardless of hormone levels or gender identity.

“This decision was not made lightly,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. “But we are unwavering in our commitment to fairness and safety in female sports. We will doggedly protect the female category and do whatever it takes to do it.”

World Athletics has confirmed that the test will be conducted once per athlete during their competitive career. The process involves a non-invasive cheek swab or, alternatively, a dry blood spot sample. These will be analyzed in a secure, accredited laboratory selected by World Athletics.

Athletes will be notified confidentially of their eligibility status. If the SRY gene is detected, the athlete will be deemed ineligible for women’s competitions. The organization has stated that appeal procedures will be available, but the primary standard will rest on chromosomal sex as determined by the presence or absence of the SRY gene.

The testing will begin ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September 2025, and will be fully implemented in time for the 2028 Olympic qualification cycle. This policy builds on earlier rulings from 2023 that barred trans-identified males who had undergone male puberty from competing in female categories. It also follows previous restrictions placed on athletes with differences of sex development (DSD), such as testosterone suppression requirements.

“This is about protecting the space for biological females who train their entire lives under a certain set of physical parameters,” said a spokesperson from a coalition of female athletes who support the ruling. As the 2028 Olympics draw closer, World Athletics’ decision will likely spark intense global debate.