The International Olympic Committee announced on Thursday a significant policy shift that will require gender screening for all female category competitors at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and beyond. Under the new rules, Olympic women’s sports will be limited to athletes with biological female status, determined through SRY gene testing. This marks a major departure from the 2021 policy that permitted individual sports federations to establish their own eligibility standards.
The IOC stated that eligibility for any female category event will now be determined through a one-time SRY gene screening, conducted via saliva sample, cheek swab, or blood test. This change affects all Olympic sports, from individual to team events, and represents the first mandatory gender testing protocol since it was abandoned after the 1996 Atlanta Games.
The Science Behind the Testing
The SRY gene test identifies the presence of the male Y chromosome, which the IOC describes as “the least intrusive and most precise method” for determining biological sex. According to World Athletics, the SRY gene is “almost always on the male Y chromosome” and serves as “a highly accurate proxy for biological sex.”
IOC President Kirsty Coverty emphasized that the policy is evidence-based, stating: “The policy we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts. At the Olympic Games even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”
Addressing Competitive Fairness
The IOC frames the new requirement as essential for maintaining equality and safety in women’s sports. Coventry added in a press conference that the policy “is supporting equality and fairness and the protection of the safety on the field of play.”
World Athletics supported the shift, stating: “Attracting and retaining more girls and women into sport requires a fair and level playing field where there is no biological glass ceiling. This means that gender cannot trump biology. A consistent approach across all sport has to be a good thing.”
Implications for Athletes with Differences in Sexual Development
The policy raises significant concerns for athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD), a rare condition in which chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs may possess both male and female characteristics. These athletes will not automatically be barred from competing, but face a burden of proof.
Athletes who test positive for the SRY gene can appeal by providing alternative evidence, such as proof that their body cannot effectively utilize testosterone or documentation of female genitalia. However, this process requires costly and medically intrusive investigations.
Nine athletes with DSD, including South African Olympic champion Caster Semenya, released a statement expressing concern about the consequences: “Our dreams were broken and our lives turned upside down. Some among us were disowned by members of their family, missed out on the possibility of receiving an education and were forced to leave their country. Others underwent harmful and pointless medical interventions.”
The 2024 Paris Olympics Context
The IOC’s policy change follows controversy surrounding the 2024 Paris Olympics women’s boxing competition. Algerian fighter Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting were excluded from the 2023 International Boxing Association world championships after failing eligibility tests. However, the IOC permitted both to compete in Paris, stating they were victims of “a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA.” Both athletes won gold medals, and Lin has since been cleared to compete in female events under World Boxing regulations.
Scientific and Legal Concerns
Despite the IOC’s confidence in the testing methodology, significant scientific debate continues. The British Journal of Sports Medicine published findings this month indicating there is “no scientific data of acceptable quality regarding sport performance advantage of people with DSDs possessing an SRY gene.” The journal noted that “evidence regarding their athletic performance is extremely limited and problematic.”
Historical Context and Expert Criticism
Gender testing was first introduced at the 1968 Olympics and was last used in 1996, before being discontinued due to scientific criticism. Andrew Sinclair, the scientist who discovered the SRY gene, expressed surprise at its reintroduction, stating the concept of defining biological sex entirely by chromosomes is “overly simplistic” when considering the role of hormones, genital organs, and secondary sexual characteristics.
“Along with numerous other experts, I convinced the IOC to abandon the use of the SRY test before the 2000 Olympics in Sydney,” Sinclair said. “It is therefore extremely surprising years later there is an ill-advised move to reintroduce it.”
International Legal Considerations
The implementation of mandatory testing raises practical complications. Madeleine Pape, a sports sociologist at Lausanne University, noted that “these tests are dependent on the legal context of each country.”
An example emerged at the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, where French law prohibited testing without medical justification. This resulted in France’s women’s boxing team being barred from competing after their athletes were tested upon arrival in England but missed the deadline for submitting results.
IOC President Coventry addressed this issue, stating: “If it is illegal in a country, athletes will have the possibility when they travel to other competitions to be tested there.”
Broader Policy Implications
The new policy eliminates potential conflict with U.S. President Donald Trump, who issued an executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports shortly after taking office. While sports including swimming, athletics, cycling, and rowing have implemented their own bans, many others previously permitted transgender women to compete in female categories if they maintained reduced testosterone levels through medical treatment.
Conclusion:
The IOC’s reintroduction of gender testing marks a pivotal moment in Olympic eligibility policy. While the committee asserts the measure protects fairness and safety in women’s sports, the decision generates substantial controversy regarding scientific validity, legal frameworks, and the rights of athletes with differences in sexual development. As the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approach, ongoing debate between sports authorities, medical experts, and athletes themselves will likely shape how this policy is ultimately applied.
