Meeting in China, the World Athletics Council approved the implementation of gender tests to preserve the integrity of women's competitions. Following the recommendations issued by its gender working group, the federation has decided thata buccal swab would now be a prerequisite for compete in the women's category. A minimally intrusive test, therefore, intended to determine whether an athlete is biologically considered a woman. “It’s important to do this because it’s not just about talking about the integrity of women’s sport, but actually ensuring it. We believe it’s abouta way to give confidence and to maintain focus on the integrity of the competition", explains Sebastian Coe.
The exact procedure and timeline for implementing these tests are not yet established, but the World Athletics president hopes that the kits will be made available by the World Championships in Tokyo in September. "We never shy away from doing what is right for our sport and our athletes", added the Briton. World Athletics has also awarded several events: the 2026 World Race Walking Team Championships to Brasilia (Brazil), the 2026 World Relays to Gaborone (Botswana) and the 2028 edition to Nassau (Bahamas).
