The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced a policy requiring athletes to undergo a one-off gene test to compete in female Olympic events, limiting eligibility to biological women.
The IOC said the initiative is intended to protect the female category and establish a universal rule across elite women’s sport.
Eligibility will primarily be determined by screening for the SRY gene, which is associated with male sex development. The IOC said the presence of this gene provides highly accurate evidence of male biological development. Samples will be collected via saliva, cheek swab or blood test and are considered minimally intrusive.
Testing will be required only once. Athletes who test negative for the Sex-determining Region Y (SRY) gene will be permanently eligible for the female category. Those who test positive will not be eligible, except in rare cases such as Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS), where testosterone does not confer a performance advantage.
Athletes with an SRY-positive result, including some XY transgender individuals and those with certain differences of sexual development (DSD), may compete in male, mixed or open categories, or in sports that are not sex-classified.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the policy is science-based and necessary to ensure fairness and safety, noting that even small physical advantages can affect outcomes. She emphasised that athletes would be treated with dignity and respect throughout the process.
“Every athlete must be treated with dignity and respect, and athletes will need to be screened only once in their lifetime," she said. "There must be clear education around the process and counselling available, alongside expert medical advice.”
The policy follows consultations by the IOC and reflects recent scientific, medical and legal developments. It is based on the principle that a female category is essential to ensure fair competition and equal opportunity in elite sport, while supporting the visibility of women athletes.
The IOC Working Group on the Protection of the Female Category reviewed the latest scientific evidence and developments since 2021 and concluded that male biology can provide advantages in strength, power and endurance. It identified SRY gene screening as the most accurate and least intrusive method currently available to verify biological sex.
The policy was developed between September 2024 and March 2026, with input from global experts in sports science, medicine, ethics and law. More than 1,100 athletes contributed through surveys, interviews and consultations, with most supporting clear, science-based rules to maintain fairness and safety.
The IOC said the policy prioritises dignity, privacy and wellbeing. Sports bodies will be expected to provide education, mental health support and confidential procedures, while making clear that eligibility rules do not question an athlete’s legal gender identity.
The policy applies only to IOC events and is intended for adoption by international federations and other governing bodies, including national federations and continental associations. It replaces previous IOC guidance on gender eligibility and does not apply to grassroots or recreational sport.
The European Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have launched a $5.7 million initiative i...
U.S. Central Command said 101 commercial vessels have been redirected in the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices rose more than three per cent&...
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign ...
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad saying the strike originated from Iraq.
U.S. Central Command said 101 commercial vessels have been redirected in the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices rose more than three per cent amid fresh regional attacks and supply concerns.
Swedes vote in an election on Sunday (13 September) that could see the far-right enter government for the first time if the country's right-wing parties can form a majority.
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said an attack on a train near the Polish border was an attempt to intimidate Ukraine's allies.
Amazon has paused its operations with 21 Air, the Miami-based cargo carrier that operated an Amazon Air flight which crashed at Miami International Airport last weekend, killing five people.
Voters in the southern Philippines are casting ballots in a historic election that could shape the future of one of the country’s most conflict-affected regions and put a decades-long peace process to a crucial test.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed back against growing calls for the artificial intelligence (AI) industry to slow down, arguing that maintaining America’s lead over China is more important.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 14 September 2026. These are the top five stories making headlines in the world of artificial intelligence (AI).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment