Mandatory Gender Testing for Female Athletes Sparks Controversy Ahead of World Championships
The recent mandate for gender testing of female athletes by World Athletics has triggered widespread debate and logistical challenges ahead of the 2025 World Championships.
Key Points
- • World Athletics requires gender testing for female competitors before the 2025 World Championships.
- • Approximately 30 Swedish athletes were tested at Finnkampen, with samples sent abroad for analysis.
- • The testing aims to confirm the absence of the SRY gene, tied to male biological sex.
- • Financial burdens and logistical challenges are significant concerns for national federations.
World Athletics' recent mandate for gender testing of female athletes ahead of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo has ignited significant debate among athletes and sports officials. Introduced with little notice in late July 2025, this requirement obligates all female competitors to undergo testing to confirm they do not carry the SRY gene, which is associated with male biological sex.
In Sweden, approximately 30 athletes were tested during the Finnkampen event, using saliva samples that must be analyzed abroad due to the absence of local testing facilities. The Swedish Athletics Federation is grappling with logistical hurdles and has only just secured a contract with a foreign lab to process these tests. The total financial impact of complying with the new regulations is expected to reach around 200,000 SEK, a considerable cost that could divert funding away from other athletics programs.
The push for gender testing stems from ongoing controversies surrounding fairness and ethics in athletics, particularly concerning transgender athletes and those with differences in sex development. Reactions from Swedish athletes have generally been positive. Sprinter Julia Henriksson emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of women's sports, while high jumper Engla Nilsson described the testing process as straightforward and helpful for ensuring fairness among competitors.
However, the implementation of these tests has not been without complications. Other countries, like Canada, have faced issues; the Canadian Athletics Federation had to modify its testing procedures after initial tests were invalidated, while in France, the tests face legal challenges, forcing athletes to seek evaluations abroad. The Swedish Federation, while committed to adhering to World Athletics' demands, has called for improved planning and resource allocation to address the challenges posed by this policy in the future.