Boxing Controversy: Algerian Champion Barred After New Gender Testing Rules
Tournament Forgoes Participation of Khelif Following Implementation of Gender Verification Procedures
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The Olympic Games in Paris, 2024 sparked debates, and now, Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif, is under fire. After winning gold, she's been targeted by conservative circles, claiming she's a man. Following the introduction of stringent gender tests by World Boxing, Khelif was missing from the Netherlands tournament. Dirk Renders, a spokesperson for the Eindhoven Box Cup confirmed this to the news agency AFP.
In an unexpected twist, Khelif found herself on the sidelines due to World Boxing's latest regulation, enacted in May, demanding gender tests to verify the eligibility of athletes competing in their events 1[5]. In light of these developments, it seems that Khelif was given notice to undergo the PCR test, used to detect the SRY gene, a marker of the Y chromosome, and submit her chromosomal gender certificate by registration for the Eindhoven tournament 1.
Khelif and Lin Yuting from Taiwan had faced exclusion at the 2023 IBA World Championships for alleged testosterone test failure 2. Yet, they participated in the Paris Games as the International Olympic Committee considered gender stated in passports for eligibility 1[5]. Plagued by accusations and a disinformation tactics by conservative circles, Khelif was labeled as "a man competing against women."
- International Boxing Drama
[4]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/6/ French-mayor-regrets-algerians-exclusion-from-boxing-tournament[5]: https://theguardian.com/sport/2024/may/30/ iamanekhelif-excluded-from-eindhoven-boxing-tournament-after- mandatory-sex-testing-rules-for-world-boxings- competitions-are-introduced
Sports enthusiasts are discussing the international boxing drama due to the exclusion of Algerian champion Imane Khelif from a tournament. This recent controversy stems from new gender testing rules implemented by World Boxing, affecting sports known for their strict regulations, such as boxing.
