According to World Athletics — the global governing body for professional track and field — the presence or absence of the SRY gene is a reliable proxy for determining biological sex. A policy requiring that competitors in the female category undergo testing for the gene was implemented ahead of the World Athletic Championships in the fall. Supporters say the policy guarantees fairness. Critics say it’s unethical and unscientific. As Bianca Hillier reported last fall, this is part of a long history of sex-testing in elite women’s sports.
This story originally aired on Sept. 12, 2025.
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