THETo the World Athletics Federation, World Athletics, he announced a new measure: the introduction of oral swabs and blood analysis to determine the biological sex of the athletes. The goal, at least that declared, is to “protect the female category in sport”, guaranteeing an equitable competition and preserving the integrity of the races. The decision, however, comes in a moment of growing global debate on the participation of transgender athletes or with differences in sexual development (DSD) in female competitions. Not for nothing, the choice triggered a heated debate.
World Athletics: Test to determine the biological sex of athletes
According to Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, who has always argued that biology and science must be the pillars of sports regulations, transgender athletes, as well as athletes with DSD, they could represent a threat to elite competition. In his opinion, therefore, the new tests will be non -invasive and conducted according to international medical standards. These measures, they could already come into force from the world athletics championshipsforeseen in Tokyo from 13 to 21 September 2025. However, a definitive date has not yet been set for implementation.
At the ban on the transgender athletes, but not only …
From 2023, World Athletics has banned transgender women from the female categorybased on research that shows how these athletes maintain physical advantages even after taking drugs to reduce testosterone. The decision aroused controversy, But the Federation continued To argue that the gap of performance between men and women, estimated between 3% and 5% in running competitions and even higher in launches and jumps, justifies the need for rigorous regulations.
SemiNya Caster of Team South Africa is an athlete DSD (Getty)
Exclusion also of DSD athletes
The new rules, moreover, do not stop there: Athletes with DSD will also be excludedthat is, biologically female women at birth, but who, due to particular hormonal genetic conditions, have experience the effects of typical male puberty. World Athletics has, in fact, declared that the male advantage exists even before pubertymaking a more restrictive approach necessary to ensure equity in competitions.
The debate on inclusion in sport
World Athletics’ decision, He rekindled the debate on inclusion in sport and the definition of fairness. On the one hand, in fact, many argue that these measures are essential to preserve the female category and guarantee a loyal competition. On the other, critics and activists for LGBTQ+rights, they denounce that these regulations risk discriminating already marginalized athletesexcluding them from competitions and limiting their participation. The theme is particularly complex, since it involves issues that are also ethical and social. In addition, the debate extends, also, to the role of sports federations in balanced inclusion and competitionraising questions about the future of gender categories in sport.
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