Overview

• World Athletics has implemented mandatory genetic screening for all competitors in women’s events at the Tokyo World Championships beginning September 13.
• Sebastian Coe said more than 95% of athletes have completed testing, calling the rollout a success aimed at protecting women’s categories.
• Remaining athletes, including those from or based in France where non-medical genetic testing is banned, are scheduled to be tested in Tokyo after a flexible deadline.
• The checks use non-invasive methods such as buccal swabs or blood tests and look for the SRY gene or the presence of a Y chromosome.
• Human-rights experts argue the policy revives previously abandoned sex-verification practices, raising concerns over consent, discrimination and genetic privacy.