World Boxing Announces Gender Verification Process for Olympic Boxer Khelif
World Boxing Introduces Mandatory Gender Testing: Impact on Olympic Champion Imane Khelif
In a move aimed at ensuring competitive equality and athlete safety, the International Boxing Association, recognized by the IOC, has announced mandatory gender tests for participants in boxing events. Notably, this decision has immediate implications for Olympic champion Imane Khelif, who found herself at the epicenter of a gender debate in the 2024 Paris Games.
The new policy, which includes testing for age, gender, and weight, is designed to create equal competition conditions for male and female boxers. The International Boxing Association (IBA) stated that this measure is part of their revised gender policy, addressing concerns about safety and fairness in the sport.
For Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, the newly implemented rules translate into temporary disqualification from upcoming competitions, notably the Eindhoven Box Cup (5-10 June). A statement released by World Boxing explains that Khelif will not be permitted to participate in any of its events until she furnishes a genetic gender test, in accordance with the organization's testing rules and procedures.
The mandate for gender testing follows a series of contentious incidents involving Khelif at the 2024 Paris Games and the 2023 World Championships. Previously governed by the IBA (now World Boxing), these events saw Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting excluded due to unexplained gender tests. Both athletes were later allowed to participate in Paris by the IOC, with their passport-verified gender serving as the primary criteria for inclusion.
World Boxing's new policy focuses on protective measures for combat athletes, considering the inherent risks associated with Olympic boxing. From the age of 18, all participants in World Boxing events will be required to undergo a PCR genetic test to determine their birth gender and eligibility to compete. The test may be conducted via nasal or oral swab, saliva, or blood sample.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed a desire to maintain boxing in the Olympic program but with a reliable partner. Following suspensions of the IBA, World Boxing was recognized by the IOC's executive board in February. The organization will manage the boxing tournaments for the 2024 Paris and 2020 Tokyo Games, with responsibility for the 2028 Los Angeles Games set to transfer to World Boxing.
Sources: ntv.de, dbe/dpa
In light of the new gender testing policy in boxing, initiated by World Boxing, Olympic champion Imane Khelif faces temporary disqualification from certain events, such as the Eindhoven Box Cup. This decision is a result of the requirement for all participants in World Boxing events to submit to a genetic gender test, as a means to ensure fairness and safety in sports.
