Olympics-France calls IOC gender testing rule a 'step backwards'

Olympic rings are pictured outside the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during an Executive Board meeting at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

PARIS, March 27 (Reuters) - ⁠France's sports minister on Friday called the International Olympic Committee's decision to ⁠introduce genetic testing for women's events a "step backwards", warning it raises major ‌ethical, legal and scientific concerns.

France "takes note" of the decision to require athletes to undergo testing based on the SRY gene, but opposes any broad use of genetic screening, Marina Ferrari said in a ​statement.