New gene tests system in disarray ahead of world championships

MANCHESTER, England :Female Canadian athletes have been told that the new gene tests they recently underwent do not comply with World Athletics' requirements, leaving them scrambling to complete new tests before the September 1 deadline for the world championships.

French athletes are also seeking meets and camps outside their country to complete the one-off tests after the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Sports ruled them illegal in France.

Athletics Canada commissioned Dynacare to conduct SRY gene tests, which help to determine biological sex, at the recent national championships.

However, in an email sent this week to athletes and seen by Reuters it said Dynacare "has advised us that the test kits they provided were not of the required standard."

Athletics Canada CEO Mathieu Gentes told Reuters on Friday that the federation is "doing everything within its power in the interest of athletes to ensure that we meet World Athletics' September 1st deadline for completion of the test.

"It's a rapidly evolving situation which we're dealing with in real time," Gentes said. "We are working on solutions to assist athletes in locations around the world."

Dynacare, who were not immediately available to comment, are sending new test kits to athletes based in Canada and the U.S., along with testing locations, according to Athletics Canada.

The French Athletics Federation (FFA) had planned to test athletes at the national championships but was told "such tests are prohibited under the French Bioethics Law enacted in 1994," the FAA said in a statement to Reuters.

"As a result, ultimately, no action was carried out.

"The federation is confident in World Athletics' ability to quickly find a solution and to ensure that French athletes can take