All female athletes forced to take ‘gene test’ before World Athletics Championships following Imane Khelif Olympics row
World Athletics has confirmed the introduction of a gene test to be taken by anyone hoping to compete in the female category at world ranking athletics competitions.
The announcement comes months after contention surrounded Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who was born and raised as a girl but was forced to defend herself after being disqualified from the 2023 World Championships for failing an unspecified gender eligibility test.
Khelif was, however, allowed to compete in the 2024 Olympic games, with the Olympic Committee saying at the time that ‘every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination’.
Now, officials at World Athletics have announced a new test for their sports which any athletes wishing to compete in the female category will have to undergo.
The new test will involve a cheek swab or blood sample (Getty Stock Photo)
In a press release shared on July 30, World Athletics announced that its council had approved the regulations, which state: “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 – a reliable proxy for determining biological sex.
“This is to be conducted via a cheek swab or blood test, whichever is more convenient.”
The new rules are set to come into effect on September 1, just days before the World Athletics Championships kick off in Tokyo on September 13.
The testing is set to be overseen by Member Federations as teams prepare for the upcoming championship.
Commenting on the new regulations and SRY test, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe 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.”