World Athletics to introduce mandatory sex testing for female competitions

World Athletics is set to implement mandatory testing for participants in female competitions to verify their biological sex, stating that it is essential for preserving the integrity of women’s sports.

This initiative, led by Sebastian Coe as the president of the governing body, comes two years after the decision to exclude individuals assigned male at birth from female events, addressing issues of gender eligibility. Following a World Athletics Council meeting, Lord Coe mentioned that non-invasive cheek swabs or dry blood tests, which only need to be performed once on an athlete, may be utilised, according to ‘Sky News’.

“We believe this is a crucial step for providing confidence and ensuring the integrity of competition remains intact,” he stated.

The tests are intended to determine whether someone has transitioned to female after experiencing male puberty or if they possess differences of sex development that confer testosterone advantages.

The organisation is currently seeking providers for the testing. Lord Coe remarked, “The pre-clearance testing will enable athletes to compete in the female category.”

“The procedures are indeed straightforward and clear, and they are significant. We will be focusing on establishing the timelines. Neither of these methods is invasive. They are necessary and will adhere to the highest medical standards.”

This development follows US President Donald Trump’s statement ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where he asserted that only two sexes exist, male and female, and called for the exclusion of transgender women from women’s events.

While the International Olympic Committee previously labeled a return to sex testing as a “bad idea,” the new IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, does not dismiss the possibility and has also discussed safeguarding the female category.

“This is an ongoing discussion, and international federations have been more actively involved,” she explained to Sky News after her recent election.

“My proposal is to assemble a group with international federations to deeply understand the nuances of each sport, as they differ. For instance, sex isn't a concern in equestrian sports, but it is in others.”

“So, what I'd like to do is gather international federations to find a collective approach for us to proceed.”

Last year, Reem Alsalem, the UN’s special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, urged the IOC to reinstate sex testing for female athletes to safeguard them against injuries related to eligibility concerns.

The IOC had initially introduced “certificates of femininity” at the 1968 Mexico Games, but those chromosome-based tests were later deemed unscientific and unethical, leading to their discontinuation prior to the Sydney 2000 Games.