'Harmed, Outed, Scrutinized': How New Athletics Sex Testing Ruling Sparks Global Human Rights Alarm
- Sep 23, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 23, 2025
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The world of elite sports is once again embroiled in a deeply divisive issue: sex testing. World Athletics' new regulations, which took effect on September 1, 2025, mandate that all athletes wishing to compete in the female category must undergo a once-in-a-lifetime genetic test to detect the SRY gene. While the governing body, led by President Sebastian Coe, frames the athletics sex testing ruling as a necessary step to "protect and promote the integrity of women's sport," human rights advocates and medical experts are sounding the alarm. They warn that the policy is invasive, scientifically questionable, and poised to cause irreparable harm to the very athletes it claims to regulate.
The core of the controversy lies in the potential fallout for athletes who may have Differences of Sex Development (DSD) and are unaware of it. For many, this mandatory test will be the first time they receive life-altering information about their own bodies, a discovery that critics argue should happen in a confidential medical setting, not as a prerequisite for competition. Payoshni Mitra, a prominent athlete-rights advocate, told CNN that the timing—right before major events like the World Championships—magnifies the harm, as athletes are "outed and scrutinized" at a moment of intense media pressure.
The athletics sex testing ruling has been criticized for disproportionately impacting athletes from the Global South, where access to medical information and support systems is often limited. These athletes may face not only the loss of their careers but also social stigma and discrimination in their home countries. The case of Caster Semenya, who won a landmark victory at the European Court of Human Rights in July 2025, highlighted the discriminatory nature of previous regulations and the "deeply unequal relationship" between athletes and sporting bodies.
