Test of “ invasive ” by world athletics causing headaches for athletes before the world championships

A Canadian athlete, with an eye on the world athletics championships next month, was preparing for a gymnasium session when she received an email from Athletics Canada.

The message of August 13, said the Salive (cheeky tampon) test that the athlete and other women took during the recent Ottawa national championships to be eligible for competition in the worlds did not comply with the requirements of the athletics world.

The athlete, whom CBC Sports agreed to remain confidential for fear of reprisals, had already traveled in Europe, where she planned to train for a month.

“I went to the gymnasium for an hour and a half (after reading the email) because I was on the phone trying to understand what to do to make sure that I was eligible (for the worlds),” she said. “Should I fly in another country to take the test?” It is illegal in the country (where) I train.

“The trip is a load, stress is a load. It is a bit boring, especially when I do not agree with this policy.”

Athletics Canada has contracted Dynamacare, one of the main providers of Canada’s health and well-being solutions to provide doctors to administer to Ottawa and return for analysis and results. However, Dynacare “made a mistake with the tubes provided”, according to Athletics Canada, and could not carry out the appropriate tests of the samples taken.

Several messages in Dynamacare requesting comments on which is at fault for a possible test of test tube has not been returned to CBC Sports.

In a previous declaration of Dynamacare, he said: “Athletics Canada provided Dynamacare with saliva samples for tests. Blood samples identified by Dynacare were necessary, not saliva, and immediately recommended to collect blood to meet correct standards (world athletics).

“It was a new process for Athletics Canada, and we had not provided this type of test for them before.”

Colin Whitmee, Canada Athletics Performance Director, CBC Sports told a statement last week, the saliva test was, and remains, a valid test, by world athletics.

September 1 Test Deadline

About 37 Canadian female athletes are undergoing SRY gene tests via blood or swab by the end of August before the world championships from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo.

The SRY gene, which means the region of the region determining sex there, is on the Y chromosome. The SRY test determines whether the genetic material responsible for the management of the determination of the male sex is present in the cells of a person.

In a press release of July 30, World Athletics announced that all the athletes wishing to participate in the WORLDS female category pass a unique test for the SRY gene to determine biological sex. However, punctual tests were deemed illegal in several countries.

In the end, the Canadian athlete had to drive only 75 minutes in a small town in a neighboring country for the blood test last Friday. Before locating this laboratory, the athlete was preparing to drive four hours in each direction to the high city closest to this country.

“The laboratory technician was not impressed by the policy of me to test,” she said. “Each health care provider with whom I interacted on this test expressed to me how the policy of the world of athletics is it and are not delighted to participate.”

A second Canadian athlete that CBC Sports agreed to remain confidential for fear of reprisals, said that determining where to pass the blood test was a challenge, but was grateful athletics Canada had found a solution. Based in Europe, she took it in Spain on August 19 but needed one night after driving four to five o’clock.

“It would have been too exhausting to do everything in a day,” added the athlete.

Before the trip, his coach adjusted his training schedule.

“It was difficult to stay focused because I was trying to find a solution to finish the test, which involved emails and phone calls,” said the second athlete. “Demanding that all women finish it by September 1 is frustrating.

“Global athletics should have extended the deadline or allow the test using a saliva sample in Tokyo (at the world championships).”

“Useless stress for federations, athletes”

The first Canadian athlete noted that it paused him when a community of scientists is concerned about the stages of athletics that athletics is.

“I think (the test) is invasive,” she said. “The deployment of this policy was a waste and has caused a lot of unnecessary stress for federations (like Athletics Canada) and athletes to understand how to take a test.”

Global athletics benefits from the passion we have for this sport, knowing that we are going to do everything they say to be eligible (for the world championships).– a Canadian athlete on the Sry gene test

The first Canadian athlete wondered if the world of athletics announced the Sry gene test near the world championships so that the federations would not have time to challenge.

“Athletics Canada does not feel (he has) the possibility of having a political position on this test. They just want to make sure that athletes are eligible to compete,” she said.

“As an athlete, it seems manipulative. World Athletics takes advantage of the passion we have for this sport, knowing that we are going to do everything they say to be eligible. If World Athletics introduced the tests earlier, there would have been more dialogue with the federations on the right thing to do.”

In the “debate” of Sry gene tests, the first Canadian explained that there is “a lot of transphobia, misogyny and hatred towards all kinds of women and it is difficult to speak.

“There is a recognition that testosterone is a hormone improving performance and key differentiation hormone between the female and male category,” she said.

“Global athletics already knows our testosterone levels because we all do anti-doping tests. If there are anomalies, there is a follow-up opportunity. Doping? Or, is it natural? The chromosomal angle is not relevant.

In a declaration to CBC Sports, World Athletics said that he had widely consulted individuals and groups affected and when asked for a test preference, “a wide range of stakeholders responded, and the majority supported the implementation of regulations, including the Sry Cheek swab test. The test is low invasive and easy to administer.”

World Athletics told CBC Sports that he had introduced the Gene Sry test last March following a decision of the Council and since then “we have developed the most accessible process, working with many of our member federations”.

In a press release of March 25, 2025 which referred to the genetic test, World Athletics said that a test supplier, a process and a calendar would be converse in the coming weeks.

“They announce that the Sry gene tests are the direction they want to go, but there is no formal protocol in place, and no mention of the test being implemented for the world championships in Tokyo,” said the first Canadian athlete. “Then, the president of global athletics, Seb Coe, announces the difficult policy on July 30.”

Look | World Athletics says that Sry Gene is tested to maintain “the integrity of the competition”:

Global athletics has just brought genetic tests back

CBC Sports explains what’s going on in the world of athletics.

“Important step in protecting the female category”

The world of athletics added national championships was considered the appropriate time for member federations “to test the majority of their athletes” because there are no world championships or Olympic games in 2026.

“This is an important and important first step in protecting the female category,” he said, “that we know that our federations actively support”.

Athletics Canada had 24 hours to form a Sry test protocol for the national championships, which started the next day.

“Until then, the Jamaican national championships had occurred as well as others,” said the first Canadian athlete.

World Athletics said it would cover up to US $ 100 for the cost of tests for each athlete. For Canadian athletes, Whitmee said: “Dynama has offered to cover the costs of the collection and tests of new samples.

The first Canadian athlete did a Google search and found in some countries that the Sry gene test can cost up to US $ 300. Its SRY gene test in Europe costs 209 euros, or $ 242.84 in the United States, without cheaper option.

“You think of the cost between (214 members) federations and it will be $ 200,000 to $ 300,000 us,” she said. “Why don’t you invest this money in anti-doping?”

“I hate losing against someone who dops much more than I hate to lose against an intersexated athlete,” added the Canadian athlete laughing because she lost the two. “Why does global athletics make this on the federations when they could have offered this test in Japan (at the world championships) and covers the cost? It externalizes responsibility and lets the federations rush without too much information.”

The costs for SRY gene tests vary according to the country, told CBC Sports, at CBC Sports, with certain cost as little as US $ 40. “We will know the final costs later this year.”

“What countries?” asked the athlete. “Also, what about the cost of travel when you have to (test) in another country?”

Many questions about the process remain unanswered, including the potential of a falsely positive test and how athletes and federations would sail within a tight.

In the meantime, Athletics Canada is expected to unveil its world championship team on Thursday.