World Boxing Apologizes ⁢After Sex testing⁤ Policy Announcement

⁤ Updated June 03,⁢ 2025
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World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst has issued an apology to the Algerian Boxing Federation after olympic champion Imane Khelif ⁣was specifically named in the organization’s announcement of a new mandatory sex testing policy. The policy, intended to ensure fair competition and athlete⁢ safety, requires genetic testing⁣ for all boxers over 18.

khelif, who won gold at the‍ Paris Games, had previously faced scrutiny regarding⁤ her eligibility. Van der Vorst acknowledged the error in singling her out, stating in a letter to the Algerian Boxing Federation ‍that her privacy should have been protected. He ‍expressed hope that his outreach demonstrated respect⁣ for the federation and its athletes.

The new policy mandates a polymerase chain reaction ⁤(PCR) genetic test‍ to determine an athlete’s sex at birth. For‍ athletes intending to compete in women’s categories ⁣and found to have male chromosomal material, further screenings by self-reliant clinical specialists will be required. ⁢an appeals process is included in the policy.

Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, another gold‍ medalist from Taiwan, were previously under scrutiny ⁤when the International Boxing Association⁢ disqualified them from the 2023 world ‍championships due to unspecified eligibility concerns.however, the International Olympic committee cleared them to compete in Paris using ‍existing Olympic sex eligibility rules.

World boxing, provisionally approved to organize boxing at the⁢ 2028 Los Angeles Games, faces pressure to establish clear⁣ sex eligibility standards.⁣ The mandatory testing, set to begin July 1, aims to create a level playing field for all competitors.

Some boxers ‍and federations have voiced concerns about Khelif’s participation, even as she plans to defend her gold medal⁢ in Los Angeles. She had intended to return‍ to international competition this month at the Eindhoven Box cup in the Netherlands.