Following the Khelif incident, the boxing authorities announced mandatory gender verification tests.
The World Boxing federation has introduced a new guideline for gender tests in boxing, effective today. This move comes after a series of discussions and consultations with internal specialists and experts, following eligibility issues that arose during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) excluded Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting from the 2023 World Championships due to unexplained gender tests. The status of whether Khelif will undergo the gender test or possibly appeal against the decision remains open.
The new guideline was developed by a working group within World Boxing, consisting of members from the medical department and the anti-doping committee. All athletes over 18 years of age must now undergo a PCR test or a functional, medically equivalent genetic screening test to determine their birth gender.
The gender indicated in the passport remains decisive for admission to competitions, according to the IOC. However, the IOC has allowed Khelif and Lin to participate in the Summer Games in Paris despite the IBA's exclusion.
The gender tests are intended to ensure safety and create equal competitive conditions for men and women. The IOC wants to keep boxing in the Olympic program and has taken over the organization of the boxing tournaments in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo after the IBA suspension.
The World Boxing Championships will take place in Liverpool from September 4 to 14. Female boxers participating in the women's category must undergo a mandatory gender test. The IOC recognized World Boxing as a partner in February, and the federation is set to take over the organization of the boxing tournaments in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The IBA's decision to exclude Khelif and Lin was criticized by the IOC as a "random decision without proper procedure." Both Khelif and Lin won gold in the Summer Games in Paris, adding to their impressive achievements in the sport.
Discussions during the development of the guideline included legal, social, and sporting developments related to the issue of gender eligibility. The new guideline aims to provide a fair and transparent approach to addressing these complex issues in the sport of boxing.
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