World Athletics plans pre-clearance testing of female category track and field athletes
World Athletics plans to introduce biological pre-clearance tests for track and field athletes before they can compete in the female category, the sport's governing body announced Tuesday.
These tests will screen athletes' genetic samples to determine whether they contain the SRY gene, or 'a genetic surrogate for a Y chromosome,' according to the organization.
The decision comes following a World Athletics Council meeting where the council agreed to adopt multiple recommended conditions of 'eligibility in the female category.'
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said the tests will be 'non-invasive' during a Tuesday press conference.
'Cheek swab or dry blood tests,' Coe said. 'It's along the lines of something that will be administered once in the career of an athlete, a female athlete.'
Coe said the organization is still looking for a provider to carry out the tests.
'We will doggedly protect the female category, and we'll do whatever is necessary to do it, and we're not just talking about it,' Coe told reporters.
'Preserving the integrity of competition in the female category is a fundamental principle of the sport of athletics,' World Athletics said in a Tuesday press release.
The organization added, 'The majority of stakeholders consulted last month on the proposed new eligibility conditions for the female category agreed that allowing only biological female athletes to compete in the female category was essential to maintaining fairness.'
Coe reiterated this standpoint during the press conference.
'This we feel is a really important way of providing confidence and maintaining that absolute focus on the integrity of competition.'
Transgender athletes' participation in women's sport has been a topical subject of late.
President Donald Trump took executive action in February to deliver on a political issue central to his 2024 campaign: banning transgender women from competing in women's sports.
Trump signed an executive order titled 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports' surrounded by dozens of women and some young girls in athletic uniforms.
'With this executive order, the war on women's sports is over,' the president said.
The order is two-pronged, leaning on compliance with Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities that receive funding from the federal government, as well as federal engagement with the private sector.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
5 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Tyler Adams will miss USMNT's final pre-Gold Cup match with foot injury
Tyler Adams will not play in the U.S. men's national team friendly against Switzerland on Tuesday, manager Mauricio Pochettino said Monday afternoon. Adams suffered a minor foot injury and did not participate in the few minutes of training on Monday before the session was ultimately postponed due to weather. "I think it's not a big issue, hope it's not a big issue," Pochettino told reporters. "I think we can manage. I think he'll rest a few days and then see if he can be ready for the Gold Cup. That's why he's not going to be involved tomorrow [in the final tournament tune-up match vs. Switzerland]." Adams came off the bench in the second half of the Americans' 2-1 loss to Turkiye on Saturday. Despite the defeat, Adams, who wore the captain's armband throughout the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was optimistic and upbeat after the match. "Are you kidding me? So many positives to take away from that game," Adams told reporters. "It's one of the first times that we've gone down and we've created so many clear chances afterwards. Now, it's just about putting the ball in the back of the net." Pochettino said he's not concerned about other players needing to miss Tuesday's match. He said the players who went 90 minutes vs. Turkiye – including Matt Freese, Chris Richards, Alex Freeman, Luca de la Torre and Malik Tillman – will be evaluated, as well as those who may have come into camp with other issues, like Walker Zimmerman who recently recovered from a concussion. "We are always talking with the medical staff and trying to help everyone be in good condition for the Gold Cup," Pochettino said. "Tomorrow is an opportunity to keep progressing and playing. Good to have another tough opponent like Switzerland that is going to be tough in a similar way to Turkiye." Pochettino also addressed the squad's goalkeeper situation. Freese, who plays for New York City FC, made his USMNT debut on Saturday, starting over veteran Matt Turner. Pochettino had previously said the goalkeeper competition is open and gave Freese a chance. "I am so happy with him because I think he managed really well," Pochettino said of Freese. "He was very, very good. Things he needs to improve? Of course. But he needs to play and needs games with the national team. I think he of course needs to improve, like all the players, but I'm so happy with his debut. He's a great guy and he has amazing potential. "It's a good competition for us to discover that he can cope with the pressure to play for the national team." The USMNT opens Gold Cup competition on Sunday, June 15 against Trinidad and Tobago in San Jose, Calif. Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman . recommended Get more from Gold Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Penn State, UCLA Take Private Equity Funding Deal With Elevate
Penn State and UCLA have become the inaugural partners in Elevate's newly unveiled $500 million College Investment Initiative, according to three individuals familiar with the situation. Accordingly, the two Big Ten institutions have emerged as the first known universities to formally embrace private capital as a means of funding their athletic departments—signaling a significant milestone in the growing convergence of institutional capital and intercollegiate athletics. More from Elevate Opens $500M College Sports Fund With Texas PSF, Velocity College Sports Commission Gives off Nonprofit Web Impression Colleges Prep for Athlete Title IX Lawsuits of the Revenue-Share Era Elevate formally introduced its college sports fund on Monday, revealing that two universities had already committed, but withholding their names. The fund is backed by private equity firm Velocity Capital Management and the Texas Permanent School Fund, a special-purpose government corporation that supports the state's schools. In a telephone interview, Elevate chief business officer Jonathan Marks declined to confirm the schools, but said they would be announced in the coming weeks along with potentially others. Representatives from UCLA and Penn State did not immediately respond to requests for comment. While neither Big Ten institution had previously been considered a frontrunner in the movement toward private financing, their participation is hardly surprising. Both rank among the top 25 in athletic spending among FBS public universities, per Sportico's college sports finance database, yet neither enjoys the same financial stability as some of their high-spending peers. For UCLA, the embrace of private investment comes amid prolonged fiscal distress. Now competing in the Big Ten following the dissolution of the Pac-12, the Bruins' athletic department has grappled with persistent deficits. Recent NCAA filings show a nearly $52 million shortfall in fiscal year 2024—even after receiving a $30 million campus subsidy. Over the past six years, the program has accrued close to $220 million in debt tied to athletics, highlighting the urgent need for alternative revenue streams. At Penn State, a similar financial recalibration is underway. In February, the university introduced a slate of new fees—including additional charges on season and single-game tickets, parking and in-stadium purchases—to establish its 'Legacy Fund,' designed to support mounting athletic department expenses from scholarships to facility improvements. Following Judge Claudia Wilken's final approval of the House v. NCAA settlement last week, Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft wrote an open letter announcing the Nittany Lions' intention to spend the maximum of athlete revenue-sharing allowable (roughly $20.5 million in 2025-26). 'While change can be difficult, it also can provide new opportunities, and I assure you we will embrace every opportunity this new model creates,' Kraft wrote. Over the past three years, universities, athletic conferences and private investors have engaged in ongoing discussions as the college sports economy shifts toward a model that increasingly acknowledges and compensates its athlete workforce. In this evolving landscape, it is fair to assume that nearly every Power Four institution—along with a growing number of non-P4 schools—has at least explored the potential implications of incorporating private capital into their athletic operations. Florida State University emerged as a notable early mover, becoming the first known institution to actively pursue private investment in its athletic department. In 2022, FSU initiated discussions with private equity firms Sixth Street and Arctos Partners under an in initiative internally dubbed 'Project Osceola.' While the talks demonstrated significant initial interest and ambition, the effort has yet to yield a formal agreement. Nevertheless, the initiative served as a clear signal to the broader market: Intercollegiate athletics may be prepared to venture into heretofore uncharted territory to maintain competitiveness in an increasingly professionalized landscape. With the pace of that transformation accelerating, many anticipated a wave of deals—whether through private equity, private credit or alternative financing structures—would soon materialize. Yet to date, such transactions have remained largely theoretical. In May 2024, RedBird Capital and Weatherford Capital—co-founded by FSU trustee and former Seminoles quarterback Drew Weatherford—unveiled Collegiate Athletic Solutions (CAS), an investment platform designed to deploy between $50 million and $200 million into select major athletic departments. Despite the ambition and capital behind the fund, CAS has yet to finalize or publicly announce any completed partnerships. Some universities that initially appeared to be strong candidates for private equity investment—such as the University of North Carolina—were ultimately put off by Wall Street's expectation for immediate returns. 'We have been approached numerous times about different private equity options, but nothing was appealing enough for us to pursue any further,' UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham told Sportico last August. 'The cost of capital for us is fairly low. They've got some good ideas and thoughts about some other uses of the capital, but we're not there yet.' The Big 12—arguably the most enthusiastic supporter of private capital among the conferences—recently came to a similar conclusion after a year-long evaluation process that reportedly included discussions with global investment firm CVC Capital. Meanwhile, the Big Ten, which was previously lukewarm on the idea, retained investment bank Evercore earlier this year to begin soliciting preliminary PE pitches. Best of Tennis Prize Money Tracker: Which Player Has Earned the Most in 2025? World's 50 Most Valuable Soccer Clubs 2025 Rankings NBA Playoff Games Really Are Different, Data Shows
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
How the House Settlement will reshape Texas A&M athletics
How the House Settlement will reshape Texas A&M athletics It's time for the universities and colleges to back up the Brinks trucks as they get ready to deal with all the financial obligations as a result of the House settlement approval on Friday evening. After years of lawsuits and the rise of NIL in college athletics, regulation is finally being introduced. However, the legal battles are far from over, and precedent-setting cases will likely continue for years. For now, we can examine how this approval, alongside the Texas bill, will shape Texas A&M athletics, particularly with universities now permitted to directly pay athletes. Financial Impact The most significant factor is money. The landmark case, approved by Judge Claudia Wilken, allocates $2.5–$3 billion to former players from 2016–2024 who were unable to benefit from NIL. Additionally, a revenue-sharing model essentially establishes a salary cap, beginning at approximately $20 million for the upcoming season and increasing annually over the next decade. Scholarship & Roster Changes Another major shift is the removal of scholarship limits, replaced by roster restrictions. Texas A&M head football coach Mike Elko has repeatedly highlighted the challenges this presents when shaping a team while awaiting regulatory clarity. These uncertainties complicate roster management as teams prepare for rapid policy implementation. Title IX Implications An unresolved concern is how funding will be allocated across various sports, particularly women's athletics. Even though money is earmarked for women's sports, the exact distribution under the settlement remains unclear. Following their strong season, fans are calling for increased funding for Texas A&M's softball team, led by Coach Trisha Ford. With the sport's popularity on the rise, financial investments may shift in the coming years. Texas A&M's Position Athletic Director Trev Alberts has faced criticism for his early fiscal conservatism, yet he has positioned Texas A&M ahead of the curve. At the annual SEC meetings, Alberts reinforced the university's commitment to expanding scholarships. Current & Future Scholarship Allocations: Overall: 255 → 400+ 255 → 400+ Football: 85 → 105 85 → 105 Men's Basketball: 13 → 15 13 → 15 Women's Basketball: 15 → 15 15 → 15 Baseball: 11.7 → 34 11.7 → 34 Softball: 12 → 25 12 → 25 Men's Track & Field: 12.6 → 45 12.6 → 45 Women's Track & Field: 18 → 45 While changes will impact each university differently, Texas A&M is well-positioned to provide a strong student-athlete experience without cutting sports. However, the future remains uncertain as college athletics enters a new era of free agency, where players may seek better opportunities elsewhere if an opportunity to secure their future financially presents itself. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
