World Boxing Announces Gender Verification Procedure for Olympic Champion Khelif
International Boxing Association Implements Mandatory Gender Testing for Participants
The International Boxing Association (IBA), the recognized authority for boxing under the Olympic umbrella, has announced a new policy mandating gender tests for athletes competing in World Boxing events. This policy, which takes effect on July 1, 2025, will have immediate implications for Olympic champion Imane Khelif.
Under this policy, athletes aged 18 and older participating in World Boxing events must undergo a PCR genetic test to determine their sex at birth. The test typically involves a nasal or oral swab, saliva, or blood sample. Refusal to undergo testing or the failure to provide results will result in an athlete's exclusion from World Boxing events.
The policy's primary objective is ensuring the safety of athletes in combat sports, given the physical risks associated with Olympic boxing.
Imane Khelif, the women's welterweight gold medalist from the 2024 Paris Olympics, is among those affected by this policy. She will not be eligible to compete in women's divisions in upcoming World Boxing-sanctioned events until she has undergone the required sex testing. The impact on her participation in future World Boxing events, leading to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, remains to be seen.
This new policy contrasts with the stance of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which allows athletes to compete in the category that best aligns with their self-determined gender identity, without focusing on targeted sex testing.
Notably, the IOC assumed control of the boxing tournaments for the Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2021 Games following the suspension of the IBA. The IOC will continue to handle the boxing competitions in Paris, with World Boxing set to take over in 2028. The outgoing IOC president, Thomas Bach, has emphasized the need for a reliable partner to keep boxing in the Olympic program.
Source: ntv.de, dbe/dpa
The International Boxing Association's new gender testing policy for World Boxing events will affect sports such as boxing. In light of this policy, Olympic champion Imane Khelif, a women's welterweight gold medalist from the 2024 Paris Olympics, will have to undergo mandated sex testing to continue competing in women's divisions in future World Boxing events.
