France’s Minister for Sports, Marina Ferrari, has characterized the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports and reintroduce genetic testing as a “step backward.” This measure aims to permit only biological females to compete, a practice that, as Ferrari noted, was initially implemented in 1967 but abandoned in 1999 “due to strong reservations within the scientific community regarding its relevance.”
In an official statement, Ferrari conveyed the French government’s significant concerns, emphasizing that the decision “specifically targets women by introducing a distinction that undermines the principle of equality.” She assured that no such measures would be adopted in France, which remains committed to protecting athletes’ privacy.
“We oppose a generalization of genetic tests that raises numerous ethical, legal, and medical questions, particularly in light of French bioethics laws,” Ferrari added. She further elaborated on the shortcomings of the new policy, stating, “It defines the female sex without considering the biological specificities of intersex individuals, whose sexual characteristics present natural variations, leading to a reductive and potentially stigmatizing approach.”
Ferrari also announced the establishment of a national observatory. This body will bring together sports organizations, scientists, legal experts, and athlete representatives with the goal of ensuring that sports remain “fair, inclusive, and respectful of human rights.”