World Athletics announced plans to introduce mandatory genetic testing for female athletes competing internationally, reigniting a heated debate over eligibility, fairness, and human rights in sport.
Why it matters
The new policy, unveiled during the 2025 World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China requires athletes to undergo a one-time genetic test for the presence of the SRY gene—a genetic marker typically found on the Y chromosome. Athletes who test positive will be barred from competing in women’s events, irrespective of their gender identity, testosterone levels, or whether they’ve undergone male puberty.
Context
- World Athletics has progressively tightened eligibility rules over recent years. In 2023, the governing body banned transgender women who experienced male puberty from women’s events and mandated that athletes with differences of sex development (DSD) reduce testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L for at least six months.
- The genetic testing policy emerged following a recent World Athletics working group review, which concluded that previous measures did not adequately address certain physical advantages, such as increased muscle mass, bone density, and cardiovascular capacity, believed to persist even with testosterone suppression.
Caster Semenya
- South African runner Caster Semenya has become emblematic of the controversy. Born with 46,XY DSD, Semenya’s biological condition—XY chromosomes, internal testes, no uterus, and naturally elevated testosterone—has made her the focus of scrutiny and regulation.
- After achieving global prominence and winning two Olympic gold medals, Semenya was banned from competing in her signature 800m event in 2019 when she refused testosterone-suppressing treatment she considered medically unnecessary and discriminatory.
- Semenya challenged these rules through various legal bodies, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Swiss Federal Court, and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). In 2023, the ECHR ruled her rights had been violated, yet the ruling did not restore her eligibility.
READ MORE: Caster Semenya Opens Up About Discrimination Battle Against World Athletics
What they’re saying
- World Athletics president Sebastian Coe defends the new genetic testing, emphasizing fairness: “We’ll doggedly protect the female category and do whatever it takes to do it.“
- Bioethicist Katrina Karkazis strongly criticized the measures, highlighting ethical concerns. “These rules reduce women to a gene or hormone level, ignoring everything else that makes them who they are,” she said, calling it genetic gatekeeping.
The bigger picture
- World Athletics is part of a broader trend among international sports organizations tightening eligibility criteria. Swimming, cycling, and rugby have recently implemented stricter guidelines for transgender and DSD athlete participation.
- The new genetic test, conducted via cheek swab or dried blood sample, is presented as simple and minimally invasive, but raises concerns around athlete privacy and potential discrimination.
What’s next
- World Athletics aims to finalize logistical details, including selecting a testing provider and defining implementation timelines, ahead of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
- As these policies evolve, they will likely face legal challenges and extensive public debate.
