World Athletics Accelerates DSD Compliance: 95% of Female Athlete Testing Complete for Tokyo 2025

World Athletics is making swift progress on its contentious eligibility regulations for female athletes, with President Sebastian Coe confirming that a staggering 95% of the required testing for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo has already been completed. This update signals the sport's determined push to implement its stringent rules regarding Differences in Sex Development (DSD) athletes.

The revised regulations, which took effect in March 2023, mandate that DSD athletes wishing to compete in the female category must reduce their testosterone levels to below 2.5 nanomoles per litre for a minimum of 24 months.

Crucially, these rules now apply to all track and field events, a significant expansion from previous policies that only targeted specific distances.

Coe's announcement underscores the approaching deadline for compliance ahead of the prestigious Tokyo event. While the regulations are nearing full operational status, they remain steeped in controversy and are actively being challenged in legal forums.

The most prominent of these challenges comes from two-time Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya, whose ongoing legal battle has brought global attention to the ethical and scientific complexities surrounding DSD policies.

Despite the legal headwinds, World Athletics maintains its stance that these regulations are essential for preserving the integrity and fairness of the female category in athletics.

The federation argues that high endogenous testosterone levels can confer a significant competitive advantage, and therefore, measures are necessary to ensure a level playing field.

The completion of 95% of the testing indicates a robust effort by World Athletics to enforce its framework, ensuring that athletes who plan to compete in Tokyo are well on their way to meeting the required criteria.

The next few months will be critical as the final phase of compliance unfolds, setting the stage for what promises to be a highly scrutinized and pivotal World Championships in 2025.