World athletics mandates gender tests for Tobi Amusan, others ahead of 2025 world championships

World Athletics has introduced a new regulation requiring all female athletes, including Nigeria’s sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan, to undergo mandatory gender testing ahead of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

According to the updated eligibility rules, effective from September 1, 2025, every athlete competing in the female category must complete a one-time genetic test to confirm their biological sex. The test will determine the presence of the SRY gene, typically found on the Y chromosome, and will be conducted through a cheek swab or blood sample.

World Athletics President, Sebastian Coe, defended the move, stressing the importance of preserving fairness in women’s sports.

“At the elite level, if you want to compete in the female category, you must be biologically female. Gender cannot override biology,” Coe said in a press statement.

The policy stems from recommendations by the Gender Diverse Athlete Working Group, which reviewed scientific, legal, and sporting developments over the past year. The new rule consolidates existing regulations on transgender and DSD (Differences of Sex Development) athletes and introduces a uniform pre-clearance requirement for all female competitors.

The regulation will directly affect Amusan and other Nigerian athletes who have qualified for the Tokyo Championships, scheduled to begin on September 13, 2025.

Amusan, the 2022 world champion and world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, is currently preparing for the Nigerian Championships set to take place from August 1–3 at the Yabatech Sports Complex, where she aims to defend her national title as she builds momentum toward reclaiming her global crown.