World Athletics introduces testing for gender eligibility requirements: 'Cannot trump biology'

The World Athletics Council announced Wednesday that athletes wishing to compete in female categories at the World Championships are required to undergo a "once-in-a-lifetime test" for eligibility.

The test will be for the SRY gene, "a reliable proxy for determining biological sex" with a cheek swab or blood test, the organization said in a release.

"The philosophy that we hold dear in World Athletics is the protection and the promotion of the integrity of women's sport. 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. The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensurin...