What Makes An Olympic Athlete Female? The Rules Just Changed Again
The rules for who qualifies to compete as a female athlete in the Olympics have changed—again. All transgender women athletes will be banned from female events at LA28.
IOC released new rules for transgender athletes at the LA28 Olympic Games (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for LA28) Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for LA28 The rules for who qualifies to compete as a female athlete in the Olympics have changed—again. But this time, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is replacing years of shifting, sport-by-sport standards with a single test. As a result, all transgender women will be banned from competing in female events at LA28.
The SRY Gene Test The IOC announced the new policy today, and it will apply to athletes in the LA28 Olympic Games. “Eligibility for the female category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY gene,” the IOC reported . An athlete will only need to complete one test to determine lifetime eligibility.
SRY (short for Sex-determining Region Y) is a gene found on the Y chromosome that plays a key role in biological sex development and triggers the formation of testes. The testes then produce hormones, like testosterone, that guide the body to develop male biological characteristics. If the SRY gene is absent, as in most biological females with XX chromosomes, the body typically develops ovaries and female biological characteristics.
The cheek swab or blood test that the IOC will require for female athletes will determine the presence or absence of SRY. Only those without the SRY gene will be able to compete as women in Olympic events. The new rule doesn’t just eliminate transgender women from eligibility, but also women with certain conditions known as differences in sexual development.
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