Athletics returns to look at the genre testsa practice born over half a century ago. All athletes who wish to compete in the female elite category may have to demonstrate that they are biologically women through a “buccal buffer”. The effect of the new proposals would be to treat both the transgender athletes and those with DSD in the same way, with all the athletes who wish to continue competing in the female category required to prove that they are biologically women through a buffer.
The proposal on the way in March
The test, which athletes will have to do only once in their career, would seek the SRY gene, which is almost always found on the male y chromosome and is used as a highly accurate proxy to identify biological sex. The proposals were developed by a working group on athletes of different genre, with the consultation period that starts on Monday and continues until March 5th. A meeting of the World Athletics Council in March should establish when the new regulations could be introduced.
Coe: “We must preserve the integrity of female competitions”
The president of World Athletics Sebastian Coe, also candidate for the presidency of the IOC, said: “Although our current eligibility regulations for DSD and Transgender athletes are solid and based on the science available at the time of our latest consultation, since then several have emerged Scientific developments in this field and it is our task, as a global government body for athletics, ensure that our guidelines are in step with the latest information available to maintain a fair and leveled game of play in the women’s category. The integrity of the competition in the female category is a fundamental principle of athletics sport and we can’t wait for this process of collaborative consultation with our main stakeholders in this sector “.
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