Latest news with #DSD
Daily Tribune
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
World Athletics Mandates One-Time Gene Test for Female Category Eligibility
World Athletics announced on Wednesday that athletes must undergo a one-time gene test to compete in the female category at elite world ranking competitions, including the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo. Starting September 1, eligibility will require confirmation of the absence of the SRY gene, a marker of biological sex located on the Y chromosome. The test, conducted via cheek swab or blood, will be overseen by national athletics federations and applies to all athletes aiming to compete as female in sanctioned global events. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the measure aims to uphold 'the integrity of women's sport,' noting that 'gender cannot trump biology' at the elite level. The move comes after a working group determined existing regulations around sex development and transgender eligibility were insufficient. Athletics' governing body already bans transgender women who have gone through male puberty from women's events and requires athletes with Differences of Sex Development (DSD) to medically lower testosterone levels to compete. The new SRY gene requirement adds another layer of enforcement. The rule has drawn parallels with similar moves in boxing and follows ongoing legal challenges, including Olympic champion Caster Semenya's appeal of regulations requiring hormone suppression for DSD athletes. Earlier this month, a European court ruled that Semenya's 2020 appeal had not been fully heard, reopening scrutiny of athletics' sex eligibility policies.
Japan Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Japan Today
World Athletics brings in gene tests for female category eligibility
The sport of athletics is introducing a test to establish gender Track and field athletes aiming to take part in the female category in elite competitions will have to take a gene test from September, World Athletics has announced. The test will be in place in time for the World Championships which take place in Tokyo on September 13-21. "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," said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe. "The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case." The test for the SRY gene, which is part of the Y chromosome and causes male characteristics to develop, can be done by a cheek swab or a blood test. If the athlete tests negative for the Y chromosome they are eligible to compete in the female category in world ranking competitions. If it is positive, they can only compete in the female category in non-world ranking competitions or in another category other than the female one. The test will be administered by member federations. World Athletics says the test is "extremely accurate", adding: "The risk of false negative or positive is extremely unlikely." The SRY test is the same one adopted by World Boxing when it brought in mandatory sex testing for all competitors this year. Coe said in a statement on Wednesday: "We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category you have to be biologically female. "It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology." The sport of athletics has long considered introducing eligibility criteria for women's events, amid questions over biological advantages for transgender athletes and those with differences of sex development (DSD). Transgender women who have gone through male puberty are currently banned by World Athletics from competing in women's events, while the federation requires female DSD athletes whose bodies produce high testosterone levels to take medication to lower them in order to be eligible. © 2025 AFP
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
World Athletics to enforce gene testing for female athletes
The athletics body has made it mandatory for female athletes to undergo sex-determination testing using the SRY gene to ensure fairness. Track and field athletes aiming to take part in the female category in elite competitions will have to take a gene test from September, World Athletics has announced. The test will be in place in time for the World Championships which take place in Tokyo on September 13-21. '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,' said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe. The SRY test 'The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case.' The test for the SRY gene, which is part of the Y chromosome and causes male characteristics to develop, can be done by a cheek swab or a blood test. If the athlete tests negative for the Y chromosome they are eligible to compete in the female category in world ranking competitions. If it is positive, they can only compete in the female category in non-world ranking competitions or in another category other than the female one. ALSO READ: European court says Caster Semenya's trial wasn't fair in gender testing case The test will be administered by member federations. 'Extremely accurate' test World Athletics says the test is 'extremely accurate', adding: 'The risk of false negative or positive is extremely unlikely.' The SRY test is the same one adopted by World Boxing when it brought in mandatory sex testing for all competitors this year. Coe said in a statement on Wednesday: 'We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category you have to be biologically female. 'It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology.' A long time coming The sport of athletics has long considered introducing eligibility criteria for women's events, amid questions over biological advantages for transgender athletes and those with differences of sex development (DSD). Transgender women who have gone through male puberty are currently banned by World Athletics from competing in women's events, while the federation requires female DSD athletes whose bodies produce high testosterone levels to take medication to lower them in order to be eligible. NOW READ: Pretoria granny becomes arm-wrestling champion after supporting her son
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
World Athletics brings in gene tests for female category eligibility
'The risk of false negative or positive is extremely unlikely.' Track and field athletes aiming to take part in the female category in elite competitions will have to take a gene test from September, World Athletics has announced. The test will be in place in time for the World Championships which take place in Tokyo on September 13-21. '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,' said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe. 'The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case.' The test for the SRY gene, which is part of the Y chromosome and causes male characteristics to develop, can be done by a cheek swab or a blood test. If the athlete tests negative for the Y chromosome they are eligible to compete in the female category in world ranking competitions. If it is positive, they can only compete in the female category in non-world ranking competitions or in another category other than the female one. The test will be administered by member federations. World Athletics says the test is 'extremely accurate', adding: 'The risk of false negative or positive is extremely unlikely.' 'Have to be biologically female' The SRY test is the same one adopted by World Boxing when it brought in mandatory sex testing for all competitors this year. Coe said in a statement on Wednesday: 'We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category you have to be biologically female. 'It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology.' The sport of athletics has long considered introducing eligibility criteria for women's events, amid questions over biological advantages for transgender athletes and those with differences of sex development (DSD). Transgender women who have gone through male puberty are currently banned by World Athletics from competing in women's events, while the federation requires female DSD athletes whose bodies produce high testosterone levels to take medication to lower them in order to be eligible.
Al-Ahram Weekly
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
World Athletics brings in gene tests for female category eligibility - Omni sports
Track and field athletes aiming to take part in the female category in elite competitions will have to take a gene test from September, World Athletics has announced. The test will be in place in time for the World Championships, which take place in Tokyo on September 13-21. "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," said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe. "The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case." The test for the SRY gene, which is part of the Y chromosome and causes male characteristics to develop, can be done by a cheek swab or a blood test. If the athlete tests negative for the Y chromosome, they are eligible to compete in the female category in world ranking competitions. If it is positive, they can only compete in the female category in non-world ranking competitions or in another category other than the female one. Member federations will administer the test. World Athletics says the test is "extremely accurate", adding: "The risk of false negative or positive is extremely unlikely." The SRY test is the same one adopted by World Boxing when it brought in mandatory sex testing for all competitors this year. Coe said in a statement on Wednesday: "We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female. "It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology." The sport of athletics has long considered introducing eligibility criteria for women's events, amid questions over biological advantages for transgender athletes and those with differences of sex development (DSD). World Athletics currently bans transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in women's events. At the same time, the federation requires female DSD athletes whose bodies produce high testosterone levels to take medication to lower them to be eligible. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
