Sports
Even the Scientist Who Discovered the SRY Gene Says This Is Wrong — So Why Is the IOC Pushing It?
The IOC's March 2026 announcement of an SRY gene-based female category policy resurrected the very test abandoned 30 years ago due to scientific errors. Gene discoverer Andrew Sinclair has publicly opposed its use, the UN Human Rights Council has classified it as a rights violation, and Olympic champion Caster Semenya has pledged a class-action lawsuit. Released immediately after a Trump executive order targeting transgender athletes, the policy cannot escape accusations of political pressure. The tension between protecting women's sports and the test's scientific inaccuracy and human rights implications has put the Olympic ideal on trial.