World Athletics is set to introduce cheek swabs to determine an athlete’s biological sex, according to its president Seb Coe. He stated: “It’s absolutely the way to go.” The governing body, which has previously banned transgender athletes who have undergone male puberty from competing in female events, claims this decision is crucial for preserving the “integrity of competition”. Coe emphasised his commitment to “do whatever is necessary.”
Athletes will only need to provide a swab once in their careers. Although no specific timeline for its implementation has been given, insiders are hopeful it will be ready before the World Championships in Tokyo this September.
Lord Coe explained: “It’s important to do it because it maintains everything that we’ve been talking about. Not just talking about the integrity of female women’s sport but actually guaranteeing it.
“We feel this is a really important way of providing confidence and maintaining that absolute focus on the integrity of competition.”
A working group was commissioned by World Athletics’ council to explore options, with athletes consulted throughout the process. Coe is confident that the proposals can withstand any legal challenges.
Despite “caveats” around ensuring the testing is not intrusive, he added: “Overwhelmingly, the view has come back that this is absolutely the way to go.
“I would never have set off down this path to protect the female category in sport if I’d been anything other than prepared to take the challenge head on. We’ve been to the Court of Arbitration on our DSD (difference of sexual development) regulations.
“They have been upheld, and they have again been upheld after appeal. So we will doggedly protect the female category, and we’ll do whatever is necessary to do it.”
Meanwhile, Coe has reaffirmed his pledge to financially reward Olympic track and field champions at the LA Games in 2028, following the introduction of prize funds for gold medallists in Paris last summer. While the precise figures are not finalised, Coe suggested it could surpass the previous $50,000 reward.
