World Athletics has introduced a controversial new rule requiring female athletes to undergo genetic testing to confirm their birth gender before competing.
The measure, approved under the leadership of President Sebastian Coe, comes after mounting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and other advocates seeking to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports.
The governing body announced that cheek swab tests will be conducted to detect the SRY gene, typically found on the Y chromosome, which determines male sex characteristics. Athletes who do not pass the test will be ineligible to compete in women’s events. World Athletics aims to enforce these rules before the World Championships in Tokyo this September.
Crackdown On Trans Athletes
The decision has reignited debate over fairness in women’s sports. Coe defended the move, stating, “We will doggedly protect the female category and do whatever is necessary to do it.” He emphasized that the testing safeguards the integrity of competition and ensures a level playing field for biological women.
Sharron Davies, a former Olympic swimmer and vocal critic of trans inclusion in women’s sports, celebrated the decision. “No more cheating in track and field by males in a category for females,” she wrote on social media, calling for medals to be reissued to women who she believes were unfairly denied victories.
The policy follows Donald Trump’s executive order barring trans athletes from competing in female categories, a stance that has sparked global controversy. The U.S. Department of Education, led by Linda McMahon, has also urged sports bodies to nullify records set by trans women.
Critics argue the new rule is invasive and discriminatory, particularly against intersex athletes. Others contend that testosterone suppression in transgender athletes already mitigates any physical advantage. However, World Athletics insists that new research shows a performance gap exists even before puberty, justifying the need for stricter eligibility rules.
Despite potential legal challenges, Coe remains confident the policy will stand, citing previous victories in the Court of Arbitration for Sport on similar gender-based regulations. The new rule will reshape women’s athletics and significantly impact transgender and intersex competitors worldwide.
