Critics Warn of Harmful Consequences for Gender-Diverse Athletes

Female athletes aiming to compete in international women’s track and field events will be required to undergo a one-time genetic test to confirm biological sex, under new regulations from World Athletics set to take effect September 1, according to a press release .

The policy, announced ahead of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo , mandates testing for the SRY gene , which typically indicates the presence of a Y chromosome and is used as a marker of male biological sex. The test can be administered via blood sample or cheek swab and will be overseen by national federations under World Athletics’ supervision.

The update provides procedural clarity for competitions moving forward but deepens what has long been on

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