World Athletics has taken a bold step to ensure fairness in women’s sports by approving a one-off gender eligibility test. This measure is aimed at maintaining the integrity of women’s competitions, particularly in light of the ongoing discussions around transgender and difference of sex development (DSD) athletes.
The Test’s Essence and Implementation
The newly introduced test will determine if an athlete is biologically female by detecting the SRY gene, found on the Y chromosome. The precise nature of the test, which involves a cheek swab or a dried blood spot, offers a reliable assessment of an athlete’s biological sex.
This announcement follows a period of consultation, wherein stakeholders overwhelmingly supported the idea of exclusively allowing biological females to compete in women’s events to ensure equity. Now that the strategy has been approved, World Athletics aims to put it in place by September’s World Championships in Tokyo.
A Significant Timeline and Backstory
Lord Coe, the president of World Athletics, emphasized the importance of the decision, noting that it’s a pivotal move to safeguard the integrity of women’s sports. Since two years ago, transgender athletes who have experienced male puberty have been barred from female categories in international competitions. Furthermore, recent reports submitted to the World Athletics Council highlighted the significant performance disparities that arise pre-puberty, bolstering the case for this eligibility test.
Merged Regulations and Continuing Sanctions
Alongside the landmark decision on gender verification, World Athletics has also agreed to merge DSD and transgender athlete regulations. This follows evidence indicating that testosterone suppression alone cannot mitigate male physiological advantages entirely.
As for the political landscape of global athletics, the council reviewed existing sanctions on Russian and Belarusian athletes and deemed them appropriate, maintaining athlete exclusions since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Competitors from these regions will continue under the sanctions, reaffirming athletics’ commitment to global integrity.
In summary, as stated in BBC, World Athletics’ dedication to safeguarding gender equality is exemplified through this rigorous and groundbreaking testing protocol.
