France’s Sports Minister, Marina Ferrari, has strongly condemned the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to reintroduce genetic testing as a criterion for female athletes, thereby restricting participation in women’s sports exclusively to “biological women.” Ferrari characterized this move as a “step backward,” highlighting that such tests were initially implemented in 1967 but subsequently abandoned in 1999 due to substantial reservations within the scientific community regarding their efficacy and relevance.
In an official communiqué, Minister Ferrari conveyed the French government’s deep concern, stating that the decision “specifically targets women by introducing a distinction that undermines the principle of equality.” She firmly assured that France would not adopt any similar measures, underscoring the nation’s commitment to protecting the privacy of athletes.
“We oppose the widespread application of genetic tests, which poses numerous ethical, legal, and medical questions, particularly in light of French bioethics legislation,” Ferrari added. She further elaborated on the flaws of the new policy: “It defines the female sex without considering the biological specificities of intersex individuals, whose sexual characteristics exhibit natural variations, leading to a reductive and potentially stigmatizing approach.”
To address these complex issues, Ferrari also announced the creation of a national observatory. This new body will bring together sports authorities, scientists, legal experts, and athlete representatives, with the overarching goal of ensuring that sports remain “equitable, inclusive, and respectful of human rights.”