My Tien clarified that the gender verification test is mandatory for all female athletes, not just her. The Vinh Long native provided a sample and submitted the results to World Athletics (WA).

The Vietnam Athletics Federation confirmed that My Tien's results were accepted, meeting the competition requirements.

Huynh Thi My Tien wins the gold medal in the women's 100m hurdles at the National Athletics Championships at Hoa Xuan Stadium, Da Nang on 10/8. Photo: Duc Dong

WA's medical team tested over 2,000 athletes worldwide participating in the championships. WA uses the SRY gene test, which identifies the male sex-determining gene. All athletes competing in women's events must undergo a one-time SRY gene test using a buccal swab or dried blood spot. Athletes who test positive (presence of the SRY gene) are disqualified from women's events, except in special cases such as differences in sex development (DSD), where the athlete's competitive advantage is not testosterone-driven, as per previous regulations.

My Tien is Vietnam's sole representative at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, competing under a wildcard entry. The event will take place from 13/9 to 21/9. She will participate in the women's 100m hurdles, with the qualifying round on 14/9.

Last May, My Tien competed in the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea, clocking 13.51 seconds in the heats. However, in the final, she finished 7th with a time of 13.69 seconds.

At the recent National Athletics Championships in Da Nang, My Tien won gold with a time of 13.52 seconds, falling short of her personal best of 13.38 seconds. The national record for the women's 100m hurdles is still held by Vu Bich Huong at 13.36 seconds, set in 1999.

The qualifying time for the women's 100m hurdles at the World Championships is 12.73 seconds. Even Asian champion Jyothi Yarraji (India), who recently broke the continental record with 12.96 seconds, did not meet the qualifying standard for Tokyo.

Born in 1999 in Vinh Long, My Tien previously faced a two-year ban for leaving her local team without permission. Since 2023, she has been competing for Dong Nai. At the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, the hurdler won gold with a time of 13.50 seconds. Achieving a top performance at the upcoming World Championships will be challenging for the 26-year-old, but it serves as valuable training for the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand.

Beyond her athletic achievements, My Tien is also known for her height of nearly 1.7m, slender physique, and six-pack abs.

Duc Dong