World Athletics has announced a new rule that all female athletes, including Nigeria’s star hurdler Tobi Amusan, must take a gender test before they can compete in the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.
The new rule says all women who want to compete must take a one-time test to prove they are biologically female. This is to make sure that only biological women compete in the women’s category and to protect the fairness of the sport.
The test will look for the SRY gene, which is found only in males. It can be done using a cheek swab or a blood sample.
This rule will start on September 1, 2025, just before the World Championships begin on September 13 in Tokyo.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said, “To compete in the female category at the highest level, you must be biologically female. Gender cannot be more important than biology.”
The rule comes after advice from a special group that looked into laws, science, and sports over the past year. It replaces old rules about transgender and intersex athletes and now requires all female athletes to be approved before competing.
Tobi Amusan and other Nigerian female athletes will need to take the test if they want to compete in Tokyo.
Right now, Amusan is in Nigeria preparing for the Nigerian Championships at the Yabatech Sports Complex, from August 1 to 3. She hopes to keep her national title and work toward winning back her world title, which she first won in 2022 when she set a world record in the women’s 100m hurdles.