World Athletics, a track and field body representing over 200 countries and territories, announced it will implement new regulations including a genetic test to determine if an athlete is qualified to compete in the female category. 

Female athletes such as Macy Petty are rejoicing. Petty, an ambassador for Christian nonprofit Concerned Women for America, spoke to news outlet The Washington Stand about the announcement.

“World Athletics is showing the world that it really isn’t that complicated. In fact, it’s as easy as a one-time cheek swab,” the NCAA athlete shared.  

World Athletics in 2023 barred trans-identifying biological men from competing in female sports. The implementation of the gene assessment test, which determines biological sex through testing for the SRY gene on the Y chromosome, is to enforce the 2023 rule.

Under the regulations, only biological females can compete. Females who have used testosterone for gender transition purposes cannot compete until a certain period after last use. The announcement states that such use cannot be “shorter than four years and will be determined by World Athletics on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration all relevant factors.” The factors include the timing, duration, dosages and effects of such treatment.

Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, commented on the change in the press release announcement.

“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. The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case.”

Athletes seeking to compete in the Tokyo World Championships, scheduled for Sept. 13-21, are subject to the rule, with the new regulation to be enforced by Sept. 1.

“We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female,” Coe said. “It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology.”

Despite his statement, biological males with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome as well as “a difference of sex development who satisfy the transitional provisions issued by World Athletics” could be approved on a case-by-case basis. However, trans-identifying biological men will not be permitted under the regulation.

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