In a groundbreaking and controversial move, World Athletics has announced that athletes participating in women’s track and field events will now be required to undergo DNA testing to verify their biological sex. This decision, revealed following a council meeting in Nanjing, China, marks a historic first for Olympic sports and reignites global conversations surrounding fairness and inclusion in women’s sports.
A Focus on Fairness and Integrity
Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics and a former Olympic middle-distance champion, emphasized that the decision is rooted in the organization’s commitment to preserving the integrity of female competition. “It’s important to do it because it maintains everything that we’ve been talking about, and particularly recently, about not just talking about the integrity of female women’s sport, but actually guaranteeing it,” Coe stated.
The new policy will require female competitors to submit to non-invasive DNA tests, including cheek swabs and dry blood-spot samples. These tests will be conducted once per athlete during their career, and World Athletics claims they will be implemented with minimal disruption and maximum respect for privacy.
Backed by Broad Consultation
According to Coe, this policy change follows an “exhaustive review” and input from over 70 organizations across the sporting and advocacy spectrum. “Overwhelmingly, the view has come back that this is absolutely the way to go,” he added, defending the council’s stance against growing scrutiny.
The introduction of DNA testing is seen as the next step in the organization’s evolving policy on eligibility in women’s sports. In 2023, World Athletics implemented a ban on transgender women who had undergone male puberty, moving away from the earlier testosterone-based eligibility model that allowed competition under specific hormonal thresholds.
Who Will This Affect?
While primarily aimed at transgender athletes, the policy will also extend to a small subset of female athletes born with differences in sex development (DSD) or atypical sex chromosomes. These athletes have long been at the center of heated debates and legal battles, most notably cases involving South African runner Caster Semenya.
World Athletics says the goal is to ensure all athletes in the female category meet clear, consistent eligibility requirements, which they argue will boost confidence in the fairness of competition.
Echoes Across Global Sports Bodies
The new mandate follows similar moves by other major sports organizations. World Aquatics and the NCAA in the United States have both revised their policies to more strictly define eligibility in women’s events. These decisions have intensified the broader debate on how sports should navigate the complex intersection of gender identity, biology, and fairness.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which sets guidelines but allows each sport to determine its own eligibility rules, has permitted transgender athletes to compete since 2004. However, it now faces pressure to reassess its stance ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Cultural and Political Tensions
Beyond the realm of sport, this issue has increasingly become a focal point in global political discourse. In the United States, the conversation has reached the highest levels of government. Just last month, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order restricting federal funds to schools that allow transgender girls to compete in female sports or access female facilities.
A recent New York Times/Ipsos poll highlighted shifting public opinion, with 79% of Americans now opposing the inclusion of trans women in female sports—up from 62% in 2021. The World Athletics decision, therefore, arrives at a pivotal moment, with sports governing bodies caught between evolving science, public sentiment, and the push for inclusion.
The Road Ahead
As the sporting world braces for the 2025 and 2028 Olympic cycles, the impact of this policy will be closely watched. For now, World Athletics stands firm in its belief that this is a necessary step to ensure a level playing field for female athletes. Whether the move strengthens or splinters the global sporting community remains to be seen.
For ongoing updates on this story and more on the evolution of women’s sports, explore our dedicated coverage at FemaleSports.in.
Source: Al Jazeera
