A Canadian athlete, with one eye in the World Athletics Championship next month, was preparing for a gymnastics session when he received an email from Athletics Canada.
The August 13 message declared that the saliva test (cheek swab) that the athlete and other women took in the recent National Championship of Ottawa in Ottawa to be eligible for competition in the worlds did not meet the global athletics requirements.
The athlete, which CBC Sports agreed to keep confidential for fear of reprisals, had already traveled to Europe, where he planned to train for a month.
“I went to the gym for an hour and a half [after reading the email] Because I was talking on the phone trying to discover what to do to make sure it was eligible [for worlds]”She said.” Do I have to fly to a different country to obtain the test? It is illegal in the country [where] I am training.
“Traveling is load, stress is loaded. It is a bit annoying, especially when I do not agree with this policy.”
Athletics Canada hired Dynacare, one of the main providers of Canada’s health and well -being solutions, to provide the test kits so that doctors manage in Ottawa and return for analysis and results. However, Dynacare “made an error with the tubes provided,” according to Athletics Canada, and could not perform the appropriate tests of the samples taken.
Several messages to Dynacare seek comments on who is to blame for a possible error of the test tube were not returned to CBC Sports.
In a previous statement of Dynacare, he said: “Canada athletics provided Dynacare saliva samples for the tests. Identified blood samples of Dynacare were required, not saliva, and immediately recommended blood collection to meet the right standards [from World Athletics].
“It was a new process for the athletics of Canada, and we had not provided this type of tests for them before.”
Colin Whitmee, High Performance Director of Athletics Canada, told CBC Sports in a statement last week that the saliva test was, and remains a valid test, for world athletics.
September 1 test deadline
Around 37 Canadian athletes undergo Sry genes through blood or swab at the end of August before the World Championship from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo.
The SRY gene, which represents the gene of the region and determines sex, is found in the Y chromosome. The SRY test determines whether the genetic material responsible for directing the determination of the male sex is present in a person’s cells.
In a press release on July 30, World Athletics announced that all athletes who wish to compete in the women’s category in Worlds perform a unique test in life for the SRY gene to determine biological sex. However, unique evidence has governed illegal in several countries.
In the end, the Canadian athlete only had to drive 75 minutes to a small city in a neighboring country for blood analysis last Friday. Before locating this laboratory, the athlete was preparing to drive four hours in each sense of the closest main city in that country.
“The laboratory technician was not impressed with the policy that related me to do the test,” he said. “All medical care providers with whom I have interacted with respect to this test have expressed me how it is and is not delighted to participate in it the global world athletics policy.”
A second Canadian athlete, which CBC Sports agreed to maintain confidentiality for fear of reprisals, said that determining where to do blood analysis was a challenge, but that Athletics, Canada, found a solution. Based in Europe, he took it in Spain on August 19, but required a stay during the night after driving four to five hours.
“It would have been too exhausting to do everything in one day,” added the athlete.
Before the trip, his coach adjusted his training schedule.
“It was difficult to stay focused, since I was trying to find a solution to complete the test, which involved emails and telephone calls,” said the second athlete. “Require that all women complete it before September 1 is frustrating.
“World athletics should have extended the deadline or allowed the test to be performed using a saliva sample in Tokyo [at the world championships]”
‘Unnecessary stress for federations, athletes’
The first Canadian athlete said he pauses him when a community of scientists is concerned about the steps that world athletics is taking.
“I feel [the test] It’s invasive, “he said.” The launch of this policy has been a disaster and has caused a lot of unnecessary stress for federations. [like Athletics Canada] and athletes to discover how to do a test. “
World Athletics is taking advantage of the passion we have for this sport, knowing that we will do what they say to be eligible [for the world championships].– A Canadian athlete in the Sry gene test
The first Canadian athlete wondered if World Athletics announced the Sry genes tests near the World Championship so that the federations do not have time to challenge.
“Athletics Canada does not feel [it has] The opportunity to have a political position on this test. They just want to make sure athletes are eligible to compete, “he said.
“As a athlete, he feels manipulative. World athletics is taking advantage of the passion we have for this sport, knowing that we will do what they say are eligible. If world athletics introduced the evidence previously, there would have been more dialogue with the federations about whether this is the right thing.”
In the “debate” of Sry genes, the first Canadian explained, there are “much transphobia, misogyny and hate towards all kinds of women and it is difficult to talk about those who are difficult to speak.
“There is a recognition that testosterone is a hormone that improves performance and key differentiating hormone between the female and male category,” he said.
“World athletics already knows our testosterone levels because we all do anti -doping tests. If there are abnormalities, there is an opportunity for follow -up.
In a statement to CBC Sports, World Athletics said it consulted extensively with affected people and groups and when asked about a test preference, “a wide range of interested parties responded and most supported the implementation of regulations, including the Sry swallowing test.
World Athletics told CBC Sports that he presented the Sry Gen test last March after a decision of the Council and since then “we have been developing the most accessible process, working with many of our member federations.”
In a press release on March 25, 2025 that referred to the gene test, World Athletics declared that a test provider, the process and the schedule would be agreed in the coming weeks.
“They announce Sry’s gene test is the direction in which they want to go, but there is no formal protocol, and the test of the test for the World Championship in Tokyo is not mentioned,” said the first Canadian athlete. “Then, the president of World Athletics Seb COE announces the policy lasts on July 30”.
Look | World Athletics says that the Sry vital gene test to maintain the ‘integrity of the competition’:
CBC Sports explains what is happening in the world of athletics.
‘Important step to protect the female category’
World Athletics added the National Championship, the appropriate time was considered for members of members to “try most of their athletes” since there are no world championships or in the Olympic Games in 2026.
“This is the first and important step to protect the female category,” he said, “that we know that our federations actively support.”
Athletics Canada had 24 hours to form an SRY test protocol for national championships, which began the next day.
“By then, the Jamaican National Championship had happened as well as others,” said the first Canadian athlete.
World Athletics has said it would cover up to $ 100 for the cost of the tests for each athlete. For Canadian athletes, Whitmee said: “Dynacare has offered to cover the costs of all collection and tests of new samples.
The first Canadian athlete did a search on Google and found in some countries the Sry gene test can cost up to $ 300 in the US. UU. Its Sry gene test in Europe cost 209 euros, or $ 242.84 e. UU., Without a cheaper option.
“You think about the cost of the whole [214 member] Federations and will be $ 200,000 to $ 300,000 in the United States, “he said.” Why don’t we invest that money in anti -doping?
“I hate losing someone who is with much more than I hate to lose before an intersex athlete,” added the Canadian athlete, laughing, since he has lost to both. “Why do world athletics put this in federations when they could have offered this test in Japan? [at the world championships] And did you cover the cost? It is subcontracting responsibility and lets the federations stir without much information. “
The costs of Sry gene tests vary according to the country, World Athletics told CBC Sports, and some cost as little as $ 40 us. “We will know the final costs at the end of this year.”
“What countries?” The athlete asked. “In addition, what about the cost of trips when you have to [test] In a different country? “
Many questions about the process are still unanswered, including the potential of a false positive test and how athletes and federations would navigate for a narrow time frame.
Meanwhile, Athletics Canada is expected to present your world championship team on Thursday.
