World Athletics set to introduce cheek swab test for those in women’s category All track and field athletes wishing to compete in the elite women’s category will be required to prove they are biologically female via a cheek swab under new rules set to be adopted by the sport.
Coe said on Monday: “While our current eligibility regulations for DSD and transgender athletes are robust and based on the science available at the time of our last consultation, several scientific developments in this field have emerged since then and it is our role, as the global governing body for athletics, to ensure that our guidelines keep up with the latest information available to maintain a fair and level playing field in the female category.
The effect of the new proposals would be to treat both transgender and DSD athletes the same, with all athletes wishing to continue – or start – competing in the elite female category required to prove they are biologically female through a cheek swab.
World Athletics is consulting with athletes on the impact of proposed changes to its regulations on the eligibility of transgender women and athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD).
Coe has previously spoken about how the women’s boxing tournament at last summer’s Olympic Games, where two athletes won gold despite being disqualified from the 2023 World Championships for allegedly failing to meet gender eligibility criteria, left him feeling “uncomfortable”.
