No 'Y' Allowed: The IOC's New SRY Gene Testing Policy for Female-Category Eligibility

On 26 March 2026, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the adoption of its new policy on the Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport (the Policy). The Policy requires athletes wishing to compete in the ‘female’ category at the 2028 LA Games, and all IOC events thereafter, to take a one-time sex-determining region Y gene test (know as SRY).^[1] The purpose of the test is to identify whether the individual athlete has undergone male sexual development, with such being determined by the presence of the SRY gene. Using the results of the test, an athlete will only be eligible to compete in the ‘female’ category if either:

• the SRY gene is not present and so they are biologically female; or
• in exceptional cases, the SRY gene is present, so the athlete is biologically male, but they have:
  • complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, (CAIS), and so have not gone through male sexual development; or
  • some other rare genetic disorder of sexual development, (DSD), which means that they do not benefit from the anabolic and/or performance-enhancing effects of testosterone. It is worth noting that healthy biological males have circa 15-20 times more circulating testosterone than healthy biological females.^[2]

This article examines and provides guidance to athletes and legal practitioners on the Policy, its implementation, and potential grounds for challenge.

Article Outline

• The SRY Gene and Why It Matters
• Reasons for the IOC’s Reliance on the SRY Gene
• Reasons for Letting Biological Males with CAIS or a Rare DSD Compete in the ‘Female’ Category
• Methods of Testing for the SRY Gene & Who is Responsible for Conducting Such
• Possible Outcomes of the SRY Gene Test & their Consequences
• Practical Scenarios to Consider^[3]
• Potential Grounds for Legal Challenges to the Policy