Boxing authority World Boxing is conducting a gender verification test on Olympian Khelif, the winner of the Olympic title.
International Boxing Association Introduces Mandatory Gender Tests
In response to recent controversy surrounding gender eligibility in boxing, the International Boxing Association (IBA) - also known as World Boxing - has announced new, mandatory gender testing procedures for all athletes aged 18 and above competing in its events.
These tests aim to determine an athlete's biological sex at birth by detecting the presence of the SRY gene, found on the Y chromosome. The testing process can be conducted using nasal or oral swabs, saliva, or blood samples.
The new policy was instigated due to the ongoing debate over gender eligibility, with notable cases such as Imane Khelif, the Algerian women's welterweight gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, being at the heart of the controversy. As a consequence, the IBA has prohibited Khelif from participating in upcoming events, including the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands, until she undergoes the required sex testing.
The scrutiny around Khelif and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan stirred up a debate at the 2023 World Championships, with both boxers being excluded from the event by the IBA - the organization no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) - following unexplained gender tests. Both athletes were accused of failing to meet the participation criteria and of holding a competitive advantage over other female boxers.
The IOC deemed the IBA's decision as "random and lacking proper procedure," allowing Khelif and Lin to compete in the Paris Olympics. The organization asserts that the gender indicated in the passport typically determines eligibility for various sports. Both athletes went on to win gold medals.
The IBA, recently reinstated by the IOC Executive Board, is now establishing stricter guidelines, as they aim to ensure athletes' safety, particularly in combat sports such as Olympic boxing, which carry significant physical risks. These new participation rules have been developed explicitly for protecting athletes in these areas.
The IOC oversaw the boxing tournaments in both Paris and Tokyo after the IBA's suspension, but the IBA is slated to resume control in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. IOC President Thomas Bach emphasized in Paris the organization's desire to maintain boxing in the Olympic program, yet only in collaboration with a reputable partner.
Sources: ntv.de, dbe/dpa.
[1] Effective immediately, the International Boxing Association (IBA) has implemented a comprehensive gender testing policy for athletes aged 18 and above competing in its events. These tests aim to validate an athlete's biological sex at birth using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test identifies the presence of the SRY gene, typically found on the Y chromosome.
[2] This new policy came about in the wake of controversies regarding the gender eligibility of certain boxers, including Olympic champion Imane Khelif. Under the new rules, Khelif is required to undergo this gender verification testing to continue competing as a female boxer in IBA-sanctioned events.
[3] The IBA has notified the Algerian Boxing Federation that Khelif will not be allowed to participate in upcoming competitions, such as the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands, until she completes the mandated sex testing.
[4] The IBA took over the organization of boxing tournaments in Paris and Tokyo following the IBA's suspension by the IOC. The IBA is expected to resume control of the boxing tournaments in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
- The new gender testing policy implemented by the International Boxing Association (IBA) covers athletes aged 18 and above participating in various sports, including boxing.
- To continue competing as a female boxer in IBA-sanctioned events, Olympic champion Imane Khelif is required to undergo mandated gender verification testing.
