World Athletics to introduce gender testing for participation in women's competitions.

World Athletics introduces mandatory gender testing for female athletes

The organization World Athletics plans to introduce mandatory gender testing for female athletes to ensure the integrity of competitions. This was reported by Sky News.

"We believe this is a very important way to ensure confidence and maintain an absolute focus on the integrity of competition. Preliminary testing will be conducted so that female athletes can compete in the women's category. The procedure will be simple and clear, and will also meet medical standards," said the head of the organization, Sebastian Coe.

Currently, suppliers of the tests are being sought.

World Athletics has continued the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in competitions.

The World Athletics Council has made a decision regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international tournaments. The organization deems it appropriate to maintain the sanctions if there is no improvement in circumstances or achievement of a peaceful resolution of the conflict," said Sebastian Coe at a press conference following the Council meeting.

In 2015, World Athletics temporarily excluded the All-Russian Athletics Federation due to a doping scandal. Later, the sanctions were extended several times.

Sanctions against Russia and Belarus were imposed in February 2022 after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In March 2023, the World Athletics Council decided to restore the full membership of the All-Russian Athletics Federation, but continued the suspension of athletes from Russia and Belarus due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.