A group of 34 academics has condemned mandatory genetic sex testing for female track and field athletes, branding the policy a 'backwards step' and a 'harmful anachronism'. The testing, introduced by World Athletics last September, checks for the SRY gene to ensure only biologically female athletes compete in the female category at elite level.
In a report submitted to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the academics argue that the testing violates athletes' human rights and risks causing stigma and psychological distress. Professor Alun Williams of Manchester Metropolitan University said the regulations are 'not based in science' and that the consequences are 'not proportionate to the objective pursued by World Athletics'.
The report challenges the assumption that genetic tests are straightforward and preserve dignity, highlighting practical, legal, and ethical problems with implementation across 214 member federations. It also notes a lack of robust data linking the SRY gene in athletes with differences in sexual development to performance advantages.
World Athletics defended the policy, stating that 'biological men competing against biological women violates the human rights of thousands of female athletes'. A spokesperson said all athletes at the 2023 World Championships successfully took the test, calling it 'an excellent example of global co-operation'. The International Olympic Committee is expected to issue a consensus statement on protecting the female category later this year.
