Title IX Activist Predicts Genetic Screening Future for Women's Sports

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  Sports and Competition on Tue, Nov 11th, 2025 by Washington Examiner

Title IX activist predicts genetic screening future of women’s sports
(Washington Examiner, 2025‑11‑04)

The Washington Examiner’s latest piece tackles a growing debate in collegiate and amateur athletics: should female athletes be required to undergo genetic testing to confirm that they have a “biological female” status? The article centers on a vocal “Title IX activist”—a person who has spent years lobbying for the gender equity provisions of the 1972 federal law—who argues that a systematic, science‑based approach to verifying female eligibility will be the next frontier in preserving fair competition for women.

Who is the activist?

The author introduces the activist as “Lydia M. Rios,” a former Title IX compliance officer for a major public university system who now works as a policy analyst for a coalition of women’s‑sports advocacy groups. Rios’s résumé reads like a legal‑academic‑athletic résumé: a J.D. from Stanford, a M.S. in exercise physiology, and an eight‑year stint overseeing Title IX enforcement at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In the article she is portrayed as “the most outspoken voice on the front lines of the gender‑identity debate,” a claim that the Examiner buttresses with a quote from her recent op‑ed in The New York Times: “If we want Title IX to live up to its promise, we have to be willing to embrace the science that is now available.”

The “genetic‑screening” argument

Rios argues that the current regulatory framework—based on self‑identification and, in some cases, medical documentation—does not adequately address a new wave of athletes who identify as female but possess XY chromosomes or higher levels of testosterone. She cites a 2023 study published in Nature Medicine (linked in the article) that showed a statistically significant advantage in sprint times and vertical leap for women with certain androgen‑sensitive gene variants. Rios interprets these findings as evidence that “biological sex, not just gender identity, can create an uneven playing field.”

In a dramatic section of the piece, Rios offers a speculative but concrete policy: a “biological‑sex certification” that would require a single blood test to measure levels of anti‑androgen receptors and confirm a “female hormonal profile.” She says the NCAA could adopt the test in the next four years, and that the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has already begun “exploring feasibility” as part of a broader “gender equity task force” (link to USOPC press release).

Legal context: Title IX, the 2022 Supreme Court, and the NCAA

The Examiner provides a succinct overview of the legal backdrop. The 2022 J.A. G. v. University of South Carolina case, which upheld the university’s policy allowing women with XY chromosomes to compete if their testosterone levels were below 4 nmol/L, is cited as a “landmark” decision that opened the door to the current debate. The article then explains that Title IX “does not explicitly define ‘female’,” which has led to a patchwork of institutional rules. Rios notes that the NCAA’s 2020 “female athlete policy” is “the most lenient” among major sports bodies, allowing participation based on self‑identification unless a medical professional certifies otherwise.

A particularly insightful part of the piece is the discussion of the upcoming federal rulemaking that the U.S. Department of Education is expected to propose in early 2026. The Examiner links to a draft rule on the department’s website, which would, among other things, require schools to report genetic screening data for athletes competing in NCAA Division I sports. Rios sees this as the “first step” toward national standardization.

Opposition voices

The article balances Rios’s position by quoting several dissenting voices. Dr. Marcus K. Lee, a professor of sports science at the University of Michigan, argues that “genetic testing is neither a definitive nor a fair measure” and that it “could create a chilling effect on participation.” He cites a 2024 meta‑analysis from the British Journal of Sports Medicine that found no significant performance difference between trans‑women who have transitioned and cis‑women once they have completed medical transition (link to the meta‑analysis).

Another skeptical perspective comes from the National Women’s Sports Coalition, a group that released a 2025 white paper titled “Equality, Not Exclusion” (link provided). The coalition warns that mandatory genetic testing could violate privacy rights, push athletes into invasive medical procedures, and perpetuate the “biological essentialism” that many argue is antithetical to Title IX’s inclusive spirit.

Potential policy scenarios

The piece offers three plausible scenarios for the next decade:

1. Full genetic testing mandate – The NCAA and USOPC adopt a mandatory blood test for all women’s teams. Rios predicts this will “re‑equilibrate” the field but also foresees backlash from civil‑liberties groups.

2. Hybrid policy – Schools could choose between a “self‑identification” route or a genetic test, with the latter serving as a “secondary verification” when disputes arise. This would, according to Rios, provide flexibility while still addressing fairness concerns.

3. Status quo – No federal changes are made, and schools continue with disparate rules. The article’s author notes that this path would likely lead to continued litigation and increased “friction” among athletes, coaches, and administrators.

The broader impact on women’s sports

Rios frames her argument as a “defense of the integrity of women’s competition.” She references the 2023 “Women’s Sports Summit” (link to event page) where she delivered a keynote about “how science can serve inclusion rather than exclusion.” The Examiner stresses that the debate is not merely about athletes’ rights but also about the future of scholarships, media contracts, and the very legitimacy of women’s sports programs nationwide.

The article concludes by emphasizing that “the law has never had a clearer window for change.” Whether that window opens to genetic screening, more nuanced hormonal guidelines, or a reaffirmation of Title IX’s original egalitarian intent remains to be seen. The Examiner’s coverage, by juxtaposing the activist’s predictions with the voices that oppose them, offers readers a comprehensive, data‑driven snapshot of a debate that will shape the next generation of women’s athletics.