Cycling Diving Equestrian Fencing Gymnastics Judo Modern Pent. Pass A woman will not have to prove she is a woman to compete in the Sydney Olympic Games this summer. Responding to the growing number of concerns, the IOC finally decided to take action. The IOC will nonetheless reserve the right to conduct such tests, if necessary. This ruling means that, unless there are strong doubts concerning the gender of a woman, gender testing will not be conducted in Sydney.
Gender verification is performed by submitting athletes to the sex chromotin test.
This test, more commonly called the buccal smear, relies on the fact that most female cells contain two X chromosomes and that most male cells contain one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. To establish the gender of a female athlete, a cell sample is taken from inside the cheek. The cells are then analyzed under a microscope. If the two X chromosomes are present the athlete has official confirmation of her gender. These variations would cause a woman to fail a gender test.