Boxing organization World Boxing announces gender verification test for Olympic champion Khelif.
World Boxing Introduces Mandatory Gender Testing Following Olympic Champion Khelif's Controversy
The International Boxing Association (AIBA), recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has announced a new policy requiring gender tests for all participants aged 18 and above in events organized or sanctioned by World Boxing.
This decision has immediate consequences for renowned Olympic champion Imane Khelif, following her controversial participation in the 2024 Paris Games.
In a statement, World Boxing stated that this new policy on gender, age, and weight aims to "safeguard athletes in combat sports" and create equal competition conditions for men and women.
As a result, Khelif, an Algerian boxer who won gold in Paris, will not be allowed to participate in the Eindhoven Box Cup (5-10 June) and other World Boxing events until she undergoes a genetic gender test according to World Boxing's rules and testing procedures.
The debate surrounding Khelif and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan caused a stir at the Paris Olympics. Both boxers were excluded from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), which is no longer recognized by the IOC, following unexplained gender tests. The IOC later allowed Khelif and Lin to participate in Paris, stating that the gender indicated in the passport is decisive for many sports.
World Boxing, recognized by the IOC's executive board in February, is now setting more specific rules. These new participation rules aim to protect athletes in combat sports, especially considering the physical risks associated with Olympic-style boxing.
The PCR genetic test required by World Boxing can be performed via nasal or oral swab, saliva, or blood. The IOC took over the organization of boxing tournaments for the 2024 Paris and 2020 Tokyo Games after AIBA's suspension. World Boxing will take over in 2028 in Los Angeles.
The new gender testing rules represent a stricter regulatory approach contrasting with the IOC's 2021 framework on gender identity and inclusion, which discourages targeted sex testing. The policy underscores ongoing tensions and complexities about gender eligibility in sports, especially in combat disciplines where physical differences can impact safety and fairness.
[Source: ntv.de, dbe/dpa]
In light of the controversial participation of Olympic champion Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting at the 2024 Paris Games, World Boxing has introduced mandatory gender testing for all participants aged 18 and above in events organized or sanctioned by World Boxing, aiming to create equal competition conditions in sports, particularly combat sports like boxing. This new policy on gender, age, and weight will apply to Khelif, preventing her from participating in events like the Eindhoven Box Cup until she undergoes a genetic gender test according to World Boxing's rules and testing procedures.
