Imane Khelif Under Fire! World Boxing To Introduce Mandatory Sex Testing Before All Competitions

World Boxing will introduce mandatory sex testing for all boxers in its competitions, the organization announced on Friday. Paris Olympics gold medalist Imane Khelif will be barred from competing until she completes such a test.

The global body, which will oversee boxing competitions in the 2028 Olympics after receiving provisional recognition from the IOC, aims to ensure a fair and competitive environment for both men and women.

The new policy follows less than a year after Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting won gold in Paris amidst a gender-eligibility dispute.

“Imane Khelif may not participate in the female category at any World Boxing event until she undergoes genetic sex screening in accordance with World Boxing’s rules and testing procedures," the organization stated.

World Boxing has informed the Algerian Boxing Federation that Khelif cannot compete in the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup from June 5-10 until she completes the test.

The Algerian federation joined World Boxing in September, one of over 100 national federations to join since the body’s establishment in 2023.

While competition rule changes are usually made by the World Boxing Congress, the new policy was adopted by the executive board, which holds the authority to make immediate amendments under “special or emergency circumstances."

“These new eligibility rules were developed to protect athletes in combat sports, particularly due to the physical risks associated with Olympic-style boxing," World Boxing added.

All athletes over 18 will be required to take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) genetic test, which can be conducted via nasal or mouth swab, saliva, or blood, according to World Boxing.

“The PCR test is a laboratory technique used to detect specific genetic material, specifically the SRY gene, which indicates the presence of the Y chromosome, a marker of biological sex," the organization explained.

“Athletes identified as male at birth, as evidenced by the presence of the Y chromosome or with a difference of sexual development (DSD) where male androgenization occurs, will be eligible to compete in the male category. Athletes identified as female at birth or with a DSD where male androgenization does not occur will be eligible to compete in the female category."

At the 2023 world championships, Khelif was disqualified by the International Boxing Association following a test that deemed her ineligible to fight as a woman based on gender. The IBA lost its Olympic recognition over governance issues, but the International Olympic Committee cleared Khelif to compete in Paris.

(with agency inputs)