Fact check: What are the medical tests used to determine biological sex in sports?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, there are two primary medical tests being implemented to determine biological sex in sports:

Genetic Testing:

• Cheek swabs (buccal swabs) to collect DNA samples ^{[1] [2] [3]}
• PCR tests to detect the presence of the SRY gene on the Y chromosome ^{[4] [2] [5]}
• The SRY gene triggers the development of male characteristics and serves as a proxy for biological sex determination ^{[1] [5]}

Blood Testing:

• Dry blood spot tests to measure testosterone levels ^{[1] [2]}
• These tests complement genetic testing by assessing hormonal profiles ^[2]

Implementation Details:

• World Athletics has approved these tests for female athletes competing in women's categories ^{[1] [3]}
• World Boxing has introduced mandatory sex testing including PCR tests for Y chromosome detection ^{[4] [6]}
• Athletes are required to take these tests only once during their career ^{[3] [1]}
• World Athletics plans to implement testing during the World Athletics Championships in September 2025 ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

Regulatory Landscape:

• The testing requirements are not universal across all sports - different governing bodies like World Athletics and World Boxing are implementing their own protocols ^{[4] [1]}
• These are recent developments occurring in 2025, representing a significant shift in sports governance ^[3]

Specific Cases Driving Policy:

• The implementation appears connected to controversial cases like Imane Khelif, a boxer with differences in sexual development (DSD) ^[4]
• These policies are specifically targeting athletes with differences in sexual development rather than being general screening procedures ^[4]

Stated Justifications:

• Sebastian Coe, World Athletics President, frames these tests as maintaining "the integrity of competition" and "protecting the female category" ^{[1] [3]}
• Organizations claim these measures are necessary for fair competition in women's sports ^[1]

Who Benefits:

• Sports governing bodies like World Athletics and World Boxing gain increased control over athlete eligibility and competition integrity
• Testing laboratories and genetic testing companies would benefit financially from mandatory testing requirements
• Traditional female athletes may benefit if these tests exclude competitors with male biological advantages

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral and factual in its phrasing, asking specifically about medical tests used for biological sex determination in sports. However, there are some important considerations:

Framing Limitations:

• The question doesn't acknowledge that these testing protocols are newly implemented and controversial measures, not established standard practices across all sports ^{[4] [3]}
• It presents biological sex testing as a settled, routine procedure when it's actually an emerging and disputed policy affecting specific athletes ^[4]

Missing Controversy Context:

• The question omits that these tests are being implemented in response to specific controversial cases involving athletes with differences in sexual development ^[4]
• It doesn't acknowledge the discriminatory implications of requiring only female athletes to undergo these tests while male athletes are exempt ^{[2] [3]}

Scope Misrepresentation:

• The question implies universal application across "sports" when these protocols are currently limited to specific governing bodies and competitions ^{[6] [1]}