Los Angeles 2028: Womens tests back

The International Olympic Committee has announced that starting from the 2028 Olympic Games, female athletes wishing to compete in women’s events must undergo a femininity test (only once in their lifetime), which must be positive.

To avoid controversies (such as those surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics), the International Olympic Committee made a decision. From the 2028 Olympic Games onwards, and for all competitions under the IOC’s auspices, female athletes wishing to compete in women’s events must undergo a test through saliva, oral or blood samples, as was the case between the 1968 and 1996 Olympics. Female athletes will only need to take this SRY gene screening test once in their lifetime to be allowed to enter women’s competitions. This is already the case in boxing competitions.

“The IOC considers, based on scientific evidence, that the presence of the SRY gene remains constant throughout life and represents an extremely reliable proof that an athlete has undergone male sexual development. In addition, the IOC believes that the SRY gene screening conducted through saliva, oral or blood samples is not intrusive, unlike other methods. Unless there are reasons to believe that this negative result is incorrect, the screening should only be done once in the athlete’s lifetime. With the rare exception of athletes diagnosed with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) or other rare sexual development disorders (DSD) that do not benefit from the anabolic effects and/or performance enhancement of testosterone, no athlete whose SRY gene screening is positive is eligible to compete in the female category during an event organized by the IOC,” the IOC stated in its press release.

Tests had been discontinued in 1999.

“Athletes with a positive SRY gene screening result, including transgender athletes and XY DSD athletes sensitive to androgens, remain assigned to the categories for which they are eligible. For example, for any male category or male position within a mixed category team; and for any open category or any sport or event that does not classify athletes by gender,” the IOC continued. In 1999, the IOC had decided to halt femininity chromosome tests under pressure from the scientific community questioning their relevance, and its own athletes’ commission. But evidently, science has progressed.