World Athletics has taken a landmark step by approving the introduction of a gender eligibility test for athletes competing in women’s categories.
The test, aimed at confirming biological sex, will become a mandatory “pre-clearance requirement” to ensure fairness in competitions.
Although the governing body has not confirmed a timeline for implementation, reports suggest the test could be in place by the World Championships in Tokyo this September.
This new measure is part of broader regulations designed to address eligibility for transgender and difference-of-sex development (DSD) athletes.
Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, emphasized the importance of the decision in safeguarding the integrity of female competitions. “This is a critical move to ensure fairness and confidence in women’s sports,” he stated.
The test will utilize advanced methods, including cheek swabs to detect the SRY gene—a marker for male biological characteristics—and dried blood spot tests for testosterone level assessments. Athletes will only need to undergo this test once during their career.
During consultations, a majority of stakeholders supported the decision to restrict women’s categories to biological females, citing fairness as essential to competition integrity. This follows a 2023 ban on transgender athletes who had undergone male puberty from competing in international female events.
Additionally, World Athletics announced plans to merge existing rules for transgender and DSD athletes, noting that testosterone suppression provides only partial mitigation of male physical advantages.
In separate developments, the World Athletics Council upheld sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes, maintaining their ban from international events due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Despite lifting a previous doping-related suspension, the governing body stated that the current measures remain “adequate.”
The gender eligibility test represents a pivotal moment for athletics, with stakeholders hopeful it will protect the competitive balance in women’s sports while promoting transparency and trust within the global athletic community.
