‘SRY gene screening’: International Olympic Committee adopts new policy on males in women’s sports
The International Olympic Committee announced Thursday that it would restrict women’s sports to biological females, as determined by a genetic test.
The policy will go into effect for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games onwards.
The IOC adopted as the standard a test for the gene associated with the sex-determining region Y protein, also known as SRY. The SRY gene is responsible for the initiation of male sex determination.
“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 press release notes.
“Based on scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the presence of the SRY gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced male sex development.”
“Furthermore, the IOC considers that SRY gene screening via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample is unintrusive compared to other possible methods,” the statement adds.
Transgender activists have insisted that men who identify as women should be allowed to compete in women’s sports.
Critics have long argued, however, that women’s sports must be kept separate to allow women to compete on a level playing field, and that men enjoy biological advantages that undermine fairness in women’s sports.
[Editor’s note: This story originally was published by The Daily Signal.]