World Athletics Introduces Sex Testing Following Data Revealing 50-60 DSD Athletes in Finals

Since 2000, between 50 and 60 athletes who experienced male puberty have reached the finals in women’s track and field championships globally. This statistic comes from Dr. Stéphane Bermon, a senior official at World Athletics.

To address concerns over fairness in competitions, World Athletics is introducing SRY screening. This gene test uses a cheek swab to determine whether an athlete is biologically male or female. Dr. Bermon recently presented data collected over 25 years to support this move, emphasizing that athletes with differences of sex development (DSD)—those with male testes but identified as female at birth—are overrepresented in major finals, which he says undermines the integrity of women’s sports.

In Dr. Bermon’s research, he noted that there have been 135 instances of DSD athletes in elite competitions from 2000 to 2023. Alarmingly, DSD individuals were found to be 151.9 times more likely to reach these finals than what would be expected based on their numbers in the general population. Most of this data comes from anti-doping tests that indicate elevated testosterone levels.

High-profile athletes like Caster Semenya from South Africa, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Christine Mboma from Namibia, who won silver in the 200m at the Tokyo 2020 Games, have brought attention to this issue. Since World Athletics established new rules requiring testosterone suppression, neither athlete has participated at the elite level.

Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, has stated that ensuring only biological females compete in women’s events is crucial. He stressed that the integrity of women’s sports must be protected to encourage more female participation.

However, this stance has not gone unchallenged. Critics, including Andrew Sinclair, the scientist who discovered the SRY gene, argue that relying solely on this test oversimplifies the complex issue of biological sex. He noted that sex determination involves more than just one gene.

The debate continues on social media, with many athletes and fans weighing in. Posts range from support for the new regulations to calls for a more nuanced approach to gender and sports.

Understanding the intersection of biology and athletics is important as this conversation evolves. As the landscape of competitive sports continues to change, these discussions will be critical in shaping fair and inclusive policies. For more on this topic, you can check the World Athletics official guidelines and insights from scientists like Sinclair.

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