World Athletics: Athletes ‘overwhelmingly supportive’ of gene testing – Lord Coe

World Athletics president Lord Coe says athletes are “overwhelmingly supportive” of the gene test which is being introduced for those wanting to compete in the female category.

In March, the governing body approved the introduction of a one-time test for the SRY gene – which is part of the Y chromosome and causes male characteristics to develop – to be applied for world ranking competitions.

The test is only required to be taken once and can be conducted via a cheek swab or blood test. If the result shows negative for the Y chromosome, the athlete is eligible to compete in the female category.

The regulations come into effect on 1 September and will be in operation for the World Championships beginning in Tokyo on 13 September.

Coe estimates more than 90% of athletes competing in female category events in Japan will have been tested before arriving in the country with the remainder then tested in their pre-competition holding camps.

“The athletes are overwhelmingly supportive of this, and have been very, very helpful in all this,” he said.

“The member federations have been very supportive and we needed to establish the most effective test, the test that was the most non-invasive, the one we could carry out.

“It wasn’t without its challenges, but there will be athletes that will be tested even in their holding camps in Tokyo.

“We wanted athletes to get tested, where possible, before Tokyo, and that is a very, very important principle. But if, for whatever reason, that proves difficult, we do have the opportunity to do that when they are in Tokyo.”