WORLD Boxing, the international federation for Olympic boxing, has declared that Imane Khelif must undergo sex testing in order to compete in its competitions.
The Algerian claimed gold at last year’s Paris Games, only for her eligibility as a female athlete to be placed under the microscope.
Accusations emerged after the International Boxing Association (IBA) – formally the flagship governing body for Olympic boxing – claimed that Khelif is a man.
This was based on a gender eligibility test she had allegedly failed back in 2023, though IBA is still yet to provide sufficient evidence of its discovery.
In any case, it is likely that Khelif – who has expressed her desire to compete at the Los Angeles Games in 2028 – will soon be compelled to undergo a similar process.
Her participation at the Eindhoven Box Cup, meanwhile, remains less likely, with World Boxing having insisted that she must take a sex test within the next few days.
This ‘sex screening’ protocol, which was revealed just two days ago, is set to involve PCR testing for all amateur boxers – aged 18 and over – wishing to compete in World Boxing tournaments.
The breakaway group earned recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the sport’s leading governing body – taking over from IBA – earlier this year.
As a result, the organisation will determine how Olympic boxing is managed in the leadup to LA28, while also extending its influence by the time the coveted event rolls around.
For now, though, World Boxing has confirmed that each national federation is responsible for ensuring that sex testing is adequately carried out.
From there, an athlete’s eligibility will be indicated by the result of their PCR test – presenting either XX or XY chromosomes – before further analysis is carried out.
While announcing its new policy in a press release, World Boxing also promised to deliver a “competitive level playing field for men and women.”
