World Athletics to introduce genetic tests for women

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe announced on Tuesday that the governing body has approved the use of cheek swabs and dry blood-spot tests for female athletes in order to uphold the integrity of competition. The new regulations will include reinstating chromosome testing, requiring female athletes to undergo a test to determine the presence of a gene that indicates the presence of a “Y” chromosome found in males. This test will only need to be taken once during an athlete’s career.

Coe emphasized the importance of these tests in maintaining the integrity of women’s sports, stating that it is crucial for ensuring fair competition. The decision was made after a two-day meeting of the World Athletics Council in Nanjing, with plans to draft the new regulations and confirm a testing provider in the coming weeks. It is unclear whether the tests will be implemented before the upcoming world championships in September.

Coe, a two-time Olympic champion, has been vocal about protecting the female category in track and field. He believes that the International Olympic Committee should take a leadership role in the transgender debate rather than leaving it to individual sports to decide their own regulations. World Athletics previously banned transgender athletes who had transitioned from male to female and gone through male puberty.

In addition to the testing regulations, Coe also announced plans to increase cash prizes for Olympic champions. At the Paris Games last year, gold medallists received $50,000 US each, and World Athletics has promised to include cash prizes for silver and bronze medallists at the 2028 Los Angeles games. Coe stated that ensuring the financial security of athletes is a priority, with a total of $51 million in prize money allocated over events in the next four-year cycle.

World Athletics also confirmed that there will be no changes to sanctions against Russia and Belarus, whose athletes remain banned from international competitions since 2022 following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Coe reiterated the organization’s commitment to upholding the integrity of competition and ensuring fair play for all athletes.