World Boxing Authority Initiates Gender Verification for Olympic Champion Khelif
The International Boxing Association (IBA), recognized by the IOC, has introduced mandatory genetic tests for athletes competing in their events, following controversies surrounding certain female boxers, including Olympic champion Imane Khelif. These tests aim to establish an athletes' biological sex and eligibility to compete, ensuring the safety of all participants and maintaining fair competition conditions for both men and women.
Earlier disputes concerning Khelif and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan at the 2024 Paris Games raised questions about the eligibility of these boxers, causing a stir due to their exclusion from the 2023 World Championships by the IBA. The organization later deemed the tests inconclusive and allowed both athletes to compete in Paris.
World Boxing, now recognized by the IOC's Executive Board, is setting more specific guidelines. According to the federation, these new rules aim to protect athletes in combat sports, particularly given the physical risks associated with Olympic boxing. Starting from June 2023, all athletes aged 18 and above participating in a World Boxing event will have to undergo a PCR genetic test to determine their biological sex. The test can be performed via nasal or oral swabs, saliva, or blood samples.
Imane Khelif, the Algerian gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has already been affected by these new policies. World Boxing announced that she will not be allowed to participate in the Eindhoven Box Cup and all other World Boxing events until she undergoes a genetic gender test in accordance with the rules and testing procedures of World Boxing.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed its intention to keep boxing as part of the Olympic program but only with a reliable partner. Boxing tournaments for the 2024 Paris Olympics and those held in Tokyo three years earlier are currently managed by the IOC following the suspension of the IBA. Responsibility for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be transferred to World Boxing after receiving provisional recognition from the IOC.
- Following the introduction of mandatory genetic tests by the International Boxing Association (IBA), there has been a significant focus on ensuring fairness in sports, particularly in boxing, as this was emphasized in the Olympics and other global events due to cases like Olympic champion Imane Khelif's eligibility controversy.
- As World Boxing introduces stricter guidelines, all athletes aged 18 and above competing in their events, such as Imane Khelif who has been affected, will be required to undergo PCR genetic tests to determine their biological sex beginning from June 2023, showcasing the continued commitment to maintaining athletic eligibility and fairness in sports as seen in Olympic competitions.
