World Athletics has introduced a landmark set of eligibility regulations requiring DNA-based testing for athletes competing in the female category at world ranking competitions.
The new rules, approved by the World Athletics Council, are set to take effect on 1 September 2025, just ahead of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, which kicks off on 13 September.
At the core of the new regulations is a once-in-a-lifetime SRY gene test, designed to verify biological sex. The SRY gene, found on the Y chromosome, is a scientifically accepted marker for determining biological maleness. Athletes wishing to compete in the female category must undergo this test through either a cheek swab or a blood sample, depending on their preference. The process will be administered by respective Member Federations during preparations for Tokyo 2025.
A Step to “Protect the Integrity of Women’s Sport”
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe emphasized that the decision is rooted in the organization’s philosophy of fairness and integrity in women’s sport.
“The philosophy that we hold dear in World Athletics is the protection and the promotion of the integrity of women’s sport,” Coe said.
“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.”
“We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female. Gender cannot trump biology,” he added.
Recommendations from Gender Diverse Athlete Working Group
The new policy follows more than a year of deliberations by the Gender Diverse Athlete Working Group, whose recommendations were approved in March 2025.
The group explored intersections between law, science, sport, and gender identity, and recommended a unified policy for athletes with differences of sex development (DSD) and transgender athletes.
Key recommendations included:
- Formal definition and goals for the female category.
- Merging of DSD and Transgender Regulations.
- Pre-clearance requirements for female-category participation.
- Forward-looking initiatives to support elite gender-diverse athletes.
Who Is Eligible to Compete?
Under Eligibility Rule 3.5, only the following athletes may compete in the female category:
- Biological females;
- Biological females who have previously undergone male gender-affirming testosterone treatment (only after a minimum four-year period and World Athletics’ individual review);
- Biological males with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, who have not undergone male puberty;
- Biological males with DSD who meet transitional provision criteria.
Importantly, these transitional provisions do not apply to transgender women, as there are currently no transgender women competing at the elite international level under existing regulations.
Ethical Commitments and Athlete Dignity
World Athletics has reaffirmed its commitment to ethical practices in the rollout of these regulations. The organization stated that:
- It does not question or judge gender identity;
- It respects the dignity, privacy, and confidentiality of all athletes;
- It complies fully with data protection laws;
- It will never require surgery as a condition for participation.
As the countdown to the Tokyo 2025 World Championships begins, the new DNA testing rules mark a pivotal moment in global sport. With athletes and federations preparing to comply with the SRY testing requirement, the focus now shifts to implementation and support, particularly for gender-diverse athletes navigating the new landscape.