Mon, September 29, 2025
FIS approves gene testing policy for gender eligibility
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has approved a gene testing policy for gender eligibility in its women’s events. National team officials will help implement the policy. The FIS stated: “The eligibility conditions laid out in the policy are grounded on the presence or absence of the so-called SRY gene, the sex-determining gene present on humans’ Y chromosome.” “Only SRY-negative competitors may compete in women’s competitions” going forward.
FIS events include Alpine and cross-country skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding and freestyle skiing. Johan Eliasch, FIS president, was a candidate in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) election this year and pledged to protect the female category, like the winner of the election and current IOC president Kirsty Coventry.
Eliasch stated: “This policy is the cornerstone of our commitment to protect women’s sport, and we are convinced that there is only one fair and transparent way to do that: by relying on science and biological facts.”
However, during his presidential campaign, Eliasch also suggested the possibility of creating separate sport categories based on biological identity for inclusion and fairness.
Regarding the gene testing, this policy will face difficulties, especially considering France and Norway have national laws prohibiting gene testing for nonmedical reasons. At the World Athletics Championships Tokyo25, French and Norwegian athletes had to be tested in Japan. World Athletics announced in July this year that it was introducing SRY gene testing for athletes wishing to compete in the female category.
There is no published timeline yet, but the Winter Olympic Games will take place in February next year, so there is added pressure to consolidate the testing plan.
The governing body also stated that “homologation of training slopes to ensure safe and appropriate conditions, regulation of safety equipment standards and safety protocols to protect athletes at every level” will act as other safety measures.
The FIS official statement can be found here.
