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Written question asked by Lord Moynihan (Conservative) on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 25 November 2025. It was answered by Baroness Twycross (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 November 2025 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Sports Competitors: Women

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the accuracy and limitations of the sex-determining region Y test for determining the sex of British athletes; and whether they plan to commission further genetic and physiological data about the biological sex of British athletes.

Answer

We have always been clear that when it comes to women's sport, biology matters. We will continue to support sports to develop policies that protect fairness and safety, particularly when it is not possible to balance those factors with inclusion.

It is for each sport's National Governing Body to set their own policies for who can participate in domestic competitions, and it is for International Federations to determine the rules for their sports at the international level of competition.

This Government remains committed to working with UK Sport, the British Olympic Association, and the British Paralympic Association to ensure that UK athletes can compete under clear, fair, and legally robust international regulations.

Since a universal, one-time genetic test for all athletes in the female category across all Olympic and Paralympic sports is not yet set out or mandated, no estimate of the total cost has been made by the Government.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL11814
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Women Screening Sports competitors
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk