IOC May Revisit Gender Rules

Under new chief, Olympic body set to take lead in finding solutions to complex issue

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LAUSANNE - As the gender furore that engulfed boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics rumbles on, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is weighing reintroducing testing, while several sports have already embraced testing for male chromosomes.

Such testing has its critics and the Olympics have already tried it once, only to abandon it in 1996.

New IOC president Kirsty Coventry, who became the first woman to lead the Olympic movement when she started her term on June 23, signalled a change of direction on this politically inflammatory and scientifically complex issue when she was elected in March.

"We will protect the female category and female athletes," said Coventry, a Zimbabwean swimmer who won seven Olympic medals, including two golds.

At recent Games, the IOC has left responsibility for setting and enforcing gender rules to the international federations who run their sports.

"I want the IOC to take a little bit more of a leading role," Coventry said, adding that she planned to create a "task force".

Even before Coventry begins her consultations, World Athletics and World Boxing have adopted chromosomal testing - generally a cheek swab. World Aquatics in 2023 adopted a policy that foresees such testing.