The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has released some updated guidelines on the SRY Gene Test. The test is mandatory for female athletes to compete in national-level tournaments and events.
The test was introduced last year by the World Athletics as a mandate for female athletes to undergo the tests required for participating in the World Championship. The test examines whether an athlete is biologically female or not.
After the World level, the AFI has implemented this for national tournaments from the 2026 season and has advised the stakeholders to review the changes made.
AFI in a press release said, “All stakeholders are advised to review the updated guidelines about the SRY gene test for female athletes,” said AFI in a press release.
The test came into effect on September 1, 2025, and started with the 2025 World Athletics Championships Tokyo that began on September 13.
Following the implementation of the Test, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe commented her thoughts on the new regulations set for safeguarding females in sports.
She said, “The philosophy that we hold dear in World Athletics is the protection and the promotion of the integrity of women’s sport. It is really important in a sport that is permanently trying to attract more women that they enter a sport believing there is no biological glass ceiling. The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case.”
“We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female. It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology,” she added.
The new regulations were implemented after recommendations from the Gender Diverse Athlete Working Group were approved by Council earlier in March 2025.
As per the 2025 guidelines released
• World Athletics does not judge or question gender identity
• World Athletics respects and preserves the dignity and privacy of individuals
• World Athletics strictly observes confidentiality obligations and complies with data protection laws
• World Athletics never has and never would impose any obligation to undergo surgery.
Updated Guidelines on SRY Gene Test By AFI
• The SRY Gene Test is mandatory for Female Athletes to undergo as a major process in their participation in national-level competition.
• AFI to invest in its Research & Development. Conduct a DNA test and data collection for the future.
• World Athletics made the test a mandate for the female category to compete in world ranking competitions.
