World Athletics introduces SRY gene test – Athletics Weekly

Global governing body brings in new method of determining biological sex for athletes wishing to compete in the female category

World Athletics has approved the introduction of a cheek swab or blood test to ascertain whether an athlete is eligible to compete in the female category.

The new regulations come into effect on September 1 and will be applied to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.

All athletes wishing to compete in the female category at the World Championships are required to undergo a once-in-a-lifetime test for the SRY gene. This is to be conducted via a cheek swab or blood test and will be overseen by member federations ahead of Tokyo.

Seb Coe, World Athletics President, said: “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.

“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.

“We particularly want to thank our member federations for their support and commitment in the implementation of these new regulations.”

The new regulations follow recommendations from the Gender Diverse Athlete Working Group approved by Council in March. The Working Group spent over a year studying developments in law, science, sports and society concerning gender-diverse athletes and made the following recommendations which were widely consulted on earlier this year:

• Formally affirm the design of and goals for the female category.
• Revise the eligibility regulations so that they are consistent with the design and goals.
• Merge the DSD (differences of sex development) and Transgender Regulations, and, if the effect is to restrict opportunities for DSD athletes, adopt measures to address the reliance interest of those who are currently in the pipeline.
• Adopt a pre-clearance requirement for all athletes competing in the female category.
• Consider forward initiatives, including to support elite gender diverse XY athletes.

The female athlete category is defined in the Eligibility Rule 3.5, which states that only the following athletes may compete in this category:

a. Biological females.

b. Biological females who have used testosterone as part of male gender-affirming treatment further to a Therapeutic Use Exemption granted in accordance with World Athletics’ Anti-Doping Rules may not compete in the female category until the passing of a period of time after their last use of testosterone (the period of time will be not shorter than four years and will be determined by World Athletics on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration all relevant factors including the timing, duration, dosages and effects of the male gender-affirming treatment).

c. Biological males who have Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and therefore have not gone through male sexual development including any type of male puberty.

d. Biological males with a difference of sex development who satisfy the transitional provisions issued by World Athletics.

The transitional provisions do not apply to transgender women as there are none competing at the elite international level under the current regulations.

World Athletics adds that the new female athlete category regulations, which come into effect on September 1, will be implemented with the following commitments:

• World Athletics does not judge or question gender identity;
• World Athletics respects and preserves the dignity and privacy of individuals;
• World Athletics strictly observes confidentiality obligations and complies with data protection laws;
• World Athletics never has and never would impose any obligation to undergo surgery.