World Aquatics announced the temporary suspension of a Portuguese athlete after she refused to undergo a chromosomal test for eligibility verification, required by the biomedical regulations approved in 2023.
As part of the sanction, the organization nullified all results obtained by the athlete at the Doha 2024 World Masters, including the records and medals fraudulently achieved during the event.
The organization explained that the measure is part of compliance with the Biological Sex Eligibility Program, which requires chromosomal and hormonal tests prior to participation in official competitions.
A global change in sports regulations
The protocol, adopted by World Aquatics last year, aims to ensure fair and safe conditions in female and male categories.
These verifications apply equally to athletes of all nationalities and competition levels. “The measure aims to preserve the integrity of competition and ensure fairness, safety, and inclusion for all athletes,” states the official World Aquatics document.
