World Athletics

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World Athletics to Require Women to Take Gene Test

One-time SRY gene test reveals whether Y chromosome is present

(Newser) - Who can compete as a woman in elite athletics? It'll come down to a test for the SRY gene, World Athletics announced on Wednesday. Starting September 1, the governing sports body will require that female competitors clear a one-time SRY gene test—conducted via cheek swab or blood...

Human Rights Court Gives a Win to Caster Semenya

Judges say Olympic champion runner did not get fair hearing in Switzerland

(Newser) - Two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya won a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights on Thursday in her seven-year legal fight against track and field's sex eligibility rules. The court's 17-judge highest chamber said in a 15-2 vote that Semenya had some of her rights...

These Running Shoes Keep Breaking the Rules

Brands push past height limits as demand, disqualifications rise

(Newser) - A decade after Nike's "super shoes" revolutionized distance running, a new trend is grabbing the sport's attention: running shoes with soles even higher than what's allowed in official races—despite an explicit 40mm (about 1.6 inches) rule set by World Athletics. Brands like Adidas...

At Paris Olympics, That Gold Is Also Worth Cash

Top finishers will receive $50K from World Athletics

(Newser) - This year's Olympians are fighting for more than a medal. They'll each vie for a chunk of a $2.4 million prize pot offered for the first time by governing body World Athletics. Gold medalists in each of the 48 athletic events will take home $50,000, with...

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