World Athletics approves new test to determine athletes’ gender
World Athletics gives go ahead for test to determine athletes’ gender
- World Athletics will implement cheek swab tests to determine athletes' biological sex, focusing on the SRY gene and testosterone levels.
- This decision aims to "protect the female category" in sports, according to World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
- The move follows new evidence suggesting that testosterone suppression in DSD and transgender athletes only partially mitigates the male advantage in athletics.
- A performance gap exists between sexes even before puberty, further supporting the need for this testing.
- While there's no official launch date, World Athletics aims to have the testing in place for the World Championships in Tokyo this September.