[Gender control and Olympics events from Albertville to Atlanta or good practices in gene biochemistry]. / Le contrôle de genre et les jeux olympiques d'Albertville à Atlanta ou du bon usage de la biochimie génique.

Gender verification in sport was introduced in 1967 based on the insufficient Barr test. For Albertville's Olympic Games we proposed the Medical Commission of IOC to carry out the control for the first time thanks to molecular biochemistry. PCR/SRY amplification is described giving more than 99.9% of good results. After Albertville, Barcelona and Lillehammer the method will be used in Atlanta and Nagano. Results and ethics are discussed. Easy and respectful of athletes, this reliable gender verification is indispensable for their protection. According to the good practices of CM/IOC, samples have to be discarded after the analysis is done.