Australia’s Largest Christian News Site

A new policy from World Athletics will require all female athletes to undergo genetic testing, in a welcome move towards safety and integrity in elite-level women’s competition.

World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, has introduced a new policy: all female athletes must undergo a one-time genetic test to confirm their gender eligibility before competing at the World Championships in Tokyo this September. What motivated this move? In short, the action aims to ensure clarity and fairness in elite competition. And yet, the roots go deeper still.

Reportedly, the policy’s origins trace back to controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who caused a firestorm of controversy during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Khelif won the gold medal but faced intense scrutiny after previously being disqualified from the 2023 Russia-led International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships due to tests reportedly indicating the presence of male XY chromosomes.

The issue reignited during the Olympics when the International Olympic Committee (IOC), having replaced the IBA as boxing’s governing body, questioned the IBA’s testing reliability and allowed Khelif to compete in Paris. The IOC also defended Khelif and another athlete, framing them as victims of a “politically motivated cultural war” orchestrated by the IBA.

World Athletics’ new policy introduces the sex-determining Region Y (SRY) gene test, a highly precise method to confirm biological sex. The test, conducted via a cheek swab or blood draw for DNA analysis, detects the presence of the SRY gene, which is typically found on the Y chromosome and causes male development. Female athletes must pass the test by September 13, 2025, to be eligible for the Tokyo World Championships.

‘Gender Cannot Trump Biology’

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe spoke on the development, stating, “We are saying, at the elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female.” Coe added, “The philosophy that we hold dear in World Athletics is the protection and the promotion of the integrity of women’s sport. 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 test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case.”

Coe left no room for ambiguity, stating, “It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology.” The organisation further clarified the logistics, asserting that “the SRY test is extremely accurate and the risk of false negative or positive is extremely unlikely.” They also noted, “The transitional provisions do not apply to transgender women as there are none competing at the elite international level under the current regulations.”

The policy has garnered praise from advocates who argue that it prioritises fairness and respects the biological realities of female athletes. Macy Petty, NCAA athlete and ambassador for Concerned Women for America, shared her perspective with The Washington Stand. “World Athletics is showing the world that it really isn’t that complicated. In fact, it’s as easy as a one-time cheek swab.” Petty underscored the simplicity and necessity of the approach, stating, “Separating sports based on sex is simple because it is founded on truth.”

Petty’s remarks seem to resonate with a growing chorus of Americans who believe that clear, science-based eligibility standards are essential to preserving the integrity of women’s sports. They argue that without such measures, female athletes are threatened by trans-identifying competitors, who more often than not have male physiological advantages, such as higher muscle mass, bone density, and testosterone levels, which significantly impact performance.

The Role of White House Pressure

World Athletics’ policy marks a significant shift in the global sports landscape, which, beyond everyday Americans, is reflected in several actions from the Trump administration as well. One example includes President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” It appears World Athletics’ decision comes at a time when sports organisations face mounting pressure from the White House and beyond.

As the Tokyo World Championships approach, World Athletics’ genetic testing policy stands as a move toward fairness and scientific rigour in this sports division, observers say. By prioritising biological sex as the determining factor for eligibility in women’s events, advocates argue the organisation is closer to eliminating ambiguity to help ensure female athletes compete on equal terms.

Notably, the policy does not address all the concerns raised by those in the movement to safeguard women and girls’ sports, but some argue it’s a step toward clarity. As Petty concluded, this is what “we’ve been asking for — recognising our biological distinction is the only path to protecting female athletes and affording them the dignity they deserve.”

___

Republished with thanks to The Washington Stand. Image courtesy of Pexels.