Nigeria’s world record hurdler Tobi Amusan will be among female athletes required to undergo a compulsory genetic gender test before competing at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The new regulations, introduced by World Athletics, mandate that starting September 1, 2025, all athletes wishing to participate in the female category must complete a one-time genetic test to confirm their biological sex.
The test, designed to detect the SRY gene typically found on the Y chromosome, will be performed via cheek swab or blood sample.
According to World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, the policy is intended to ensure fairness in women’s sports by confirming that all competitors in the female category are biologically female. Coe emphasized that gender identity cannot override biological classification at the elite level.
The updated rule consolidates previous regulations concerning athletes with differences of sex development (DSD) and transgender competitors, creating a uniform standard for female eligibility.
These measures follow recommendations from the Gender Diverse Athlete Working Group, which found that existing rules were insufficient to address concerns over potential biological advantages.
Athletes must complete the genetic screening before the September 13 start of the World Championships in Tokyo.
The test is considered highly accurate, with extremely low chances of false results, and only needs to be taken once in an athlete’s career.
Member federations, including the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, will be responsible for administering and overseeing the tests, with the costs covered up to a specified amount.
Amusan, the 2022 world champion and current world record holder in the 100m hurdles, is preparing to defend her title, beginning with the Nigerian Championships in Lagos from August 1 to 3 as part of her build-up to the global event.
