World Athletics has officially approved a new regulation requiring all athletes seeking to compete in the female category at the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships (September 13–21) to undergo a one-time genetic test for the presence of the SRY gene, a marker typically found on the Y chromosome. The rule comes into effect on September 1, 2025 and is set to be implemented by member federations prior to team selection.
Under the new regulation, each female-category athlete must undergo a cheek swab or dry blood-spot test to determine whether they carry the SRY gene. Only those who test negative for the gene—indicating biological female sex—will be cleared to compete in women’s events. The test is described as non‑invasive and accurate, with results expected within one to two weeks.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe emphasized that “gender cannot override biology” and that this step is vital to preserve the integrity and fairness of elite women’s athletics. He stated that elite female athletes need confidence there’s no “biological glass ceiling” limiting competition opportunities.
This policy update consolidates previous frameworks governing DSD (Differences of Sexual Development) and transgender athletes, which had separate and sometimes controversial eligibility requirements, such as testosterone thresholds. The updated rule merges them into a unified approach, including transitional provisions for athletes already competing under the earlier 2023 DSD regulations.
Notably, transgender women who experienced male puberty remain barred under current eligibility policy. DSD athletes currently compliant with testosterone-based criteria may continue under the older rules for the remainder of their careers, but no new exemptions will apply.
While World Athletics insists the testing protocol respects athlete privacy, data protection, and does not require surgery, some sports medicine communities—including groups in Australia—have raised concerns regarding ethics, consent, confidentiality, and the potential psychological impact of mandated genetic screening