The decision by World Athletics to implement mandatory gender testing for athletes in women’s events has sparked significant discussion regarding fairness and inclusivity in sports.
By requiring athletes to undergo the “SRY” test only once in their lifetime, the organization aims to streamline the process while ensuring that competition remains equitable.
Athletes will be eligible to compete in the female category for world-ranking competitions such as the world championships only if they clear a one-time gene test.
The test for the SRY gene, which needs to be taken only once and helps in determining biological sex, can be conducted via a cheek swab or blood test.
“It is really important in a sport that is permanently trying to attract more women that they enter a sport believing there is no biological glass ceiling,” the World Athletics president, Sebastian Coe, said.
“The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case. We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female.
