Tag Archives: sex testing

Q&A fact sheet for athletes on genetic sex testing in women’s and girls’ sport.

I am pleased to share a Q&A fact sheet related to the return of genetic sex testing in women’s and girls’ sport.

The Q&A was led by Marcus Mazzucco, University of Toronto, in collaboration with Madeleine Pape, Bruce Kidd, Michele K. Donnelly (she/her), Sone Erikainen, Katrina Karkazis, Jensen Brehaut, and Payoshni Mitra.

The document is a Q&A for athletes that describes what genetic sex testing is, why it is scientifically, ethically and legally problematic, and what legal options exist for athletes whose rights have been infringed by genetic sex testing requirements (see attachment below).

  • What is genetic sex testing?
  • What is the SRY gene?
  • What happens if a test indicates that I have the SRY gene?
  • What is the science behind mandatory genetic sex testing in sport?
  • I am not yet competing at the international level. Will this affect me?
  • What rights do I have to challenge genetic sex testing?
  • Who can I contact for support?

Please note that some info in this 2-pager is designed for the Canadian context but the content is relevant to athletes worldwide.

The document is available on the website of the University of Toronto’s Centre for Sport Policy Studies👉 here

Please share the document broadly!

Recording of Play The Game panel on “The return of sex testing in international sport: is it justified? is it ethical?” available

The recording to today’s panel at Play The Game on “The return of sex testing in international sport: is it justified? is it ethical?”

is now available here.

Big thanks to Madeleine Pape for organising this panel, and to my wonderful fellow panelists Sone Erikainen, Payoshni Mitra, Sasha Gollish and Marcus Mazzucco (a pleasure finally meeting in person).

And the biggest thanks goes to the athletes harmed by the regulations who came to listen to us: Caster Semenya, Annet Negesa, Evangelina Matena Kyatena. What a privilege to have you in the room.