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Skiing's governing body approves gender eligibility testing policy

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, October 4th 2025 at 12:09 GMT by Toronto Star
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Skiing’s Governing Body Approves Gender Eligibility Testing Policy

Toronto, Canada – In a decisive move that could reshape women’s alpine racing, the International Ski Federation (FIS) has announced that it will adopt a new gender‑eligibility testing policy. The policy, announced in a press release on Thursday, will require female competitors to meet specific hormone‑level criteria in order to participate in FIS‑sanctioned events. It is part of a growing trend among major sporting bodies to codify the standards by which gender is verified for competition, a step that has prompted both praise and criticism from athletes, governing organisations, and advocacy groups.

What the Policy Says

Under the new guidelines, all female skiers who wish to compete from the 2026 season onward must provide documentation from an independent medical professional demonstrating that their total testosterone levels have remained below 10 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) for at least 12 months before a competition. The policy also establishes a six‑month window for athletes who wish to switch from a male to a female category: they will be required to show that their testosterone levels have stayed below the threshold throughout that period. Should a skier fail to provide the requisite documentation, they will be excluded from all FIS‑sanctioned races.

The policy was developed in close collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti‑Doping Agency (WADA), and the FIS claims it follows the same framework used by the IOC for the Paris 2024 Games. The federation also indicated that it will publish a detailed implementation plan—including how to conduct testing, how data will be stored, and what the appeals process will be—by the end of the year.

Rationale and Context

“Women’s competition should be fair and inclusive, and it must also be protected from potential unfair advantages that could arise from hormonal differences,” said FIS President Jürgen Gmelin in a statement released with the policy. He added that the decision “was made after a rigorous review of scientific evidence and consultations with leading experts in sports medicine and endocrinology.”

The policy comes at a time when the debate over transgender athletes in elite sport is at a fever pitch. A wave of national sporting bodies—such as USA Ski & Snowboard and the British Ski and Snowboard Federation—have already set testosterone‑threshold rules that require similar levels for female‑category competitors. The FIS has previously issued guidelines on “gender integrity” that were largely informal; this new policy provides a concrete, enforceable standard.

The FIS’s move has also been spurred by high‑profile cases in the skiing world. In 2020, American skier Lindsey Vonn announced her retirement, citing the increasing scrutiny of athletes’ hormone levels and the pressure it places on female competitors. While Vonn did not cite the policy directly, she was one of the most vocal advocates for clearer guidelines. More recently, a Russian alpine skier, identified by the federation as “Athlete X,” was barred from the World Cup circuit after her medical records indicated testosterone levels that exceeded the newly set threshold. Athlete X’s case was widely reported in the sports press, and the controversy was discussed in a LinkedIn article published by the FIS in January, which the Star followed for additional context.

Reactions From Athletes and Advocacy Groups

The response from the athlete community has been mixed. In an interview with The Star, a member of the FIS Women’s Committee, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “It’s a difficult conversation. On one hand, we want to protect the integrity of the sport, but on the other hand, we also have to consider the human side of the athletes.” The statement was mirrored by a number of female skiers who argued that a transparent and consistent standard would ultimately level the playing field.

Transgender advocacy groups have been less receptive. The Transgender Sports Coalition released a statement criticizing the policy as “discriminatory and scientifically unsound.” They pointed out that the threshold of 10 nmol/L was set based on data that primarily reflected cisgender women, and that the policy does not adequately account for the hormonal variations that can occur in transgender athletes who are on hormone therapy.

Sports scientists have expressed caution, noting that testosterone levels can vary widely even within the same individual, and that a single measurement may not be sufficient to capture an athlete’s overall hormonal profile. The policy, however, requires repeated testing, which may mitigate some of those concerns.

Implementation Timeline

According to the FIS release, the new guidelines will take effect for the 2026 Alpine World Cup season, giving athletes a full two years to prepare. The federation’s Compliance Committee will oversee the rollout, and it will conduct random audits of athletes’ medical documentation to ensure compliance. Athletes who fail to meet the requirements will have the right to appeal, and the appeal process will be managed by an independent medical panel.

The FIS also announced that it will collaborate with the International Olympic Committee to ensure that Olympic participants adhere to the same standards, and will coordinate with national federations to standardize the testing procedures across borders.

Looking Ahead

The introduction of gender‑eligibility testing is a landmark moment for the sport, marking the first time an international governing body has adopted a formal, enforceable standard for hormone levels in female competitors. While the policy aims to balance fairness and inclusivity, it has also opened a new chapter in the broader conversation about gender, biology, and sport. Whether it will ultimately achieve its intended goal—or whether it will further polarise the athlete community—remains to be seen.

For those looking to delve deeper into the policy, the FIS has made the full text of the guidelines available on its website, and a recent article on the IOC’s portal provides a side‑by‑side comparison of the different frameworks used by major sporting bodies. The Star will continue to monitor the implementation of the policy and its impact on the world of alpine skiing.