The global debate on gender eligibility in sports has been a firestorm, with the Paris 2024 Olympics boxing events involving Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting serving as a flash point. The IBA disqualified both athletes from the 2023 World Championships for failing an unspecified gender test, but the IOC allowed them to compete, fueling a heated clash over fairness versus inclusion. The saga underscored the need for a unified approach to eligibility, leaving fans on edge. Can the sport find a solution that doesn’t feel like a compromise on either side?
While one side celebrates the IOC’s progressive stance, others have argued that it compromises the integrity of the sport. But just when things were about to be even more muddled up, World Athletics made their move. Dropping a bombshell on March 25, 2025, they announced mandatory pre-clearance tests for women competing in its events. The policy requires all female athletes to undergo a one-time test—either a cheek swab or dry blood spot—to verify their biological sex by checking for the SRY gene, a marker typically found on the Y chromosome.
“Overwhelmingly, the view has come back that this is the way to go,” Seb Coe said at a World Athletics Council meeting, referencing a consultation earlier in 2025. The tests, which Coe hopes to roll out before the Tokyo World Championships in September 2025, aim to exclude athletes who have undergone male puberty, building on World Athletics’ 2023 ban on transgender women in that category.
“We will doggedly protect the female category, and we’ll do whatever is necessary to do it,” Coe added, signaling a hardline stance. Well, this policy feels like a game-changer, but it’s already raising questions about enforcement and fairness. Will this approach truly level the playing field or just create new hurdles? Seb Coe was crystal clear about the policy’s intent, emphasizing its role in safeguarding women’s sports.
“We feel this is a really important way of providing confidence and maintaining that absolute focus on the integrity of competition,” writes Athletics Weekly, noting that the non-invasive tests will only be required once in an athlete’s career. The policy draws on new evidence showing an athletic performance gap even before puberty, prompting World Athletics to tighten its rules beyond its existing testosterone limits for DSD athletes.
Coe also expressed confidence in its legal standing, stating, “We’ve been to the court of arbitration [for sport] on our DSD regulations. They have been upheld and they have again been upheld after appeal.” Yet, as fans debate the move—some cheering the focus on fairness, others wary of exclusion—it’s clear this policy will be under a microscope. How will athletes adapt when the starting gun sounds in Tokyo?
Could World Athletics’ sex testing policy reshape track and field?
The gender eligibility debate in sports has already taken on a political edge, with U.S. President Donald Trump pushing hard for stricter rules ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Trump has called for a ban on transgender women in women’s events, stating there are “only two sexes—male and female,” a stance that’s rallied his base but drawn criticism from inclusion advocates.
People have been watching this unfold with mixed feelings—some agree with Trump’s focus on biological fairness, while others see it as a step backward for diversity in sports. With global sports bodies under pressure, the stage is set for change. Could World Athletics’ sex testing policy reshape global sports by aligning with this political momentum?
Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee’s new president, Kirsty Coventry, has signaled a potential shift in the IOC’s approach. Elected on March 21, 2025, as the first woman and African to lead the IOC, Coventry has not ruled out revisiting sex testing. “There is more and more scientific research. It is very clear that transgender women are more able in the female category and can take away opportunities that should be equal for women.” She has said earlier to The Guardian.
She’s emphasized the need to “protect the female category,” a nod to growing concerns about competitive equity. This feels like a pivot from the IOC’s more inclusive policies, especially after the 2024 Paris Games controversies. Could World Athletics’ sex testing policy reshape global sports by nudging the IOC toward stricter eligibility rules?
World Athletics’ policy also comes with a practical edge, as the organization plans to identify an agency to handle the high volume of tests, ensuring they meet “absolute medical standards,” according to Seb Coe in Athletics Weekly. This focus on scalability and credibility could make the policy a blueprint for others, especially as Coe’s leadership gains traction globally.
Fans are already debating its potential impact—some see it as a necessary evolution, while others worry it might alienate athletes and fans who value inclusivity. As the policy gears up for its debut, its influence could extend far beyond the track. Could World Athletics’ sex testing policy reshape global sports by setting a new global standard for fairness? Well, that remains to be seen.
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