World Athletics president Sebastian Coe revealed on Tuesday that athletes seeking to compete in women’s events will soon have to undergo a one-time genetic test to confirm that they are biologically female.
Coe said that the testing would involve non-invasive cheek swabs or dry blood spot analysis testing, and regulations would soon be drafted for the global sports body that oversees track and field as well as road running events, per Reuters. The organization is also seeking a test provider.
Athletes seeking to compete in women’s events would have to take the test just once to determine that they do not possess the SRY gene, which determines the male sex in humans.
World Athletics currently bans trans-identified males from competing in women’s events if they have gone through male puberty. However, a working group in February found that the rules were not tight enough, and that biological males, even if they did not go through puberty, can still possess advantages over female athletes. The pre-clearance testing was one recommendation made by the working group.
Coe said, "The pre-clearance testing will be for athletes to be able to compete in the female category." He added, "The process is very straightforward, frankly very clear, and it's an important one. We will look for a testing provider, we will work on the timelines, and the tests will only need to be done once in the career life of an athlete."
Coe expressed confidence that the new rules would hold up to legal challenges and said, "We'll doggedly protect the female category and do whatever it takes to do it."
