The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has approved a gene testing policy on gender eligibility for women’s events. The decision was made on Wednesday, although a ruling on whether Russian athletes can qualify for the next Winter Olympics under neutral status has been postponed.
FIS announced that it will collaborate with national team officials to implement the new policy, which mirrors the approach taken by World Athletics in track and field. The policy is based on the presence or absence of the SRY gene, a sex-determining gene found on the Y chromosome in humans.
The extent to which athletes with the SRY gene have previously participated in women’s events across FIS disciplines, including alpine and cross-country skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding, and freestyle skiing, remains unclear. FIS President Johan Eliasch emphasized the importance of protecting women’s sports and highlighted the use of science and biological facts in ensuring fairness and transparency.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently elected its first female president, Kirsty Coventry, a two-time Olympic champion swimmer from Zimbabwe. Coventry has established a group of experts to address gender-related issues in sports.
Concerns have arisen in countries like France and Norway, known for their prowess in winter sports, due to national laws prohibiting gene testing for non-medical purposes. While FIS did not disclose a timeline for the testing program, the upcoming Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Games are set to commence on February 6.
In response to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, FIS had previously banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The FIS ruling council is yet to decide on extending the ban or approving a neutral status policy for individual athletes ahead of the next Olympics, with the next council meeting scheduled for October 21.
The IOC has already excluded Russia and Belarus from team sports at both the Summer and Winter Games. Olympic sports governing bodies have been advised to consider granting neutral status to athletes from these countries who have not publicly endorsed the war and are not affiliated with military or state security services.
