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Once upon a time, Canada wouldn\u2019t let athletes compete unless they were fully vaccinated against COVID-19<\/a> \u2014 and by fully, I mean you had to have your entire primary series done with the proof uploaded to a government portal. But testing an athlete\u2019s genetic sex to ensure fairness in elite women\u2019s sports?<\/p>\n
Well, that’s just a step too far.<\/p>\n
Two Canadian female athletes are complaining about World Athletics’ new policy, which requires every athlete hoping to compete in women’s events at the World Championships in Tokyo next month to undergo a one-time genetic test to confirm biological sex.<\/p>\n
![\"Canadian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/c665d090-display-media-7.png\")
<\/p>\nThe test looks for the presence of the SRY gene, a sex-determining region on the Y chromosome that triggers male development. If the gene is present, that athlete is not eligible for the female category \u2014 because, well, that athlete isn\u2019t female.<\/p>\n
Seems like common sense. But to some, it’s offensive. Even unethical.<\/p>\n
“I feel [the test] is invasive,” one Canadian athlete told the CBC<\/a>. “The rollout of this policy has been a mess and has caused a lot of unnecessary stress for the federations and athletes to figure out how to get a test done.”<\/p>\n
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Another athlete, who is based in Europe and had to drive 4\u20135 hours to a testing site in Spain on Aug. 19, said, “It was hard to stay focused, as I was trying to find a solution to complete the test, which involved emails and phone calls.”<\/p>\n
Emails and phone calls? You mean things most of us have to do at our jobs every single day? The horror!<\/p>\n
Sure, it might have been an inconvenience, but athletes were given until Sept. 1 to get it done. Plus, we’re talking about elite international competition. Athletes don\u2019t get to pick and choose which rules are too inconvenient for them to follow.<\/p>\n
World Athletics Made The Right Call Here<\/p>\n
World Athletics introduced the gene test in March<\/a> following a Council decision. Track and field’s international governing body then announced details of the policy on July 31 \u2014 giving national federations one month to administer tests before the deadline. While some federations (like Canada and France) initially bungled the process, World Athletics has offered logistical help and financial support. It even pledged to cover $100 of each test, with some federations (like Dynacare in Canada) offering to cover 100% of costs for retesting.<\/p>\n
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe defended the policy in a statement<\/a>: “It\u2019s really important in a sport that\u2019s 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.”<\/p>\n
He\u2019s exactly right.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve seen what happens when there\u2019s no line drawn. In 2016, the entire podium in the women\u2019s 800m<\/a> at the Rio Olympics consisted of DSD (differences in sex development) male athletes \u2014 all of whom had testosterone levels far beyond the female range. It wasn\u2019t a fair race. And it robbed female athletes of the opportunity to medal.<\/p>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/gettyimages-592605058.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe entire podium for the women’s 800m final at the 2016 Summer Olympics consisted of XY intersex athletes with male levels of testosterone.<\/p>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/imane-khelif-lin-yu-ting.jpg\")
<\/p>\n