World Boxing Imposes Sex Testing on Competitors, Including Imane Khelif
Rabat – World Boxing announced on Friday that it will require all athletes over 18 to undergo mandatory sex testing before participating in its competitions, including Imane Khelif.
The decision comes after controversy involving women's welterweight gold medallist Imane Khelif at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Algerian athlete's participation raised questions about her gender identity and apparently prompted World Boxing to take this action.
This new rule, World Boxing says, aims to confirm the eligibility of male and female boxers by checking their biological sex.
Under the new policy, athletes must take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) genetic test to detect the presence of the Y chromosome, which indicates biological sex. The test can be done using a nasal or mouth swab, saliva, or blood sample.
World Boxing said it informed the Algerian Boxing Federation that Khelif must undergo this test before she can compete in the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands from June 5 to 10.
'World Boxing has written to the Algerian Boxing Federation to inform it that Imane Khelif will not be allowed to participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup or any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes sex testing,' it said in a statement.
National federations will handle the testing process and must provide proof of an athlete's chromosomal sex when entering them into World Boxing events.
Khelif became the subject of widespread rumors and claims questioning her gender during the 2024 Paris Olympics. These allegations spread quickly on social media and were amplified by several public figures, leading to intense online harassment and misinformation targeting the boxer.
In response to this cyberbullying, Khelif took legal action by filing a criminal complaint in France for aggravated cyber harassment, naming some of those responsible for spreading the false claims.
In addition, her family, including her father, came forward to defend Khelif, even showing her birth certificate and childhood pictures.
Despite the backlash, Khelif went on to win the gold medal in the women's welterweight boxing category. Following her Olympic success, she announced plans to continue her career by moving up to the 70 kg weight class and aiming to compete again at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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World Boxing Imposes Sex Testing on Competitors, Including Imane Khelif
Rabat – World Boxing announced on Friday that it will require all athletes over 18 to undergo mandatory sex testing before participating in its competitions, including Imane Khelif. The decision comes after controversy involving women's welterweight gold medallist Imane Khelif at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Algerian athlete's participation raised questions about her gender identity and apparently prompted World Boxing to take this action. This new rule, World Boxing says, aims to confirm the eligibility of male and female boxers by checking their biological sex. Under the new policy, athletes must take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) genetic test to detect the presence of the Y chromosome, which indicates biological sex. The test can be done using a nasal or mouth swab, saliva, or blood sample. World Boxing said it informed the Algerian Boxing Federation that Khelif must undergo this test before she can compete in the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands from June 5 to 10. 'World Boxing has written to the Algerian Boxing Federation to inform it that Imane Khelif will not be allowed to participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup or any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes sex testing,' it said in a statement. National federations will handle the testing process and must provide proof of an athlete's chromosomal sex when entering them into World Boxing events. Khelif became the subject of widespread rumors and claims questioning her gender during the 2024 Paris Olympics. These allegations spread quickly on social media and were amplified by several public figures, leading to intense online harassment and misinformation targeting the boxer. In response to this cyberbullying, Khelif took legal action by filing a criminal complaint in France for aggravated cyber harassment, naming some of those responsible for spreading the false claims. In addition, her family, including her father, came forward to defend Khelif, even showing her birth certificate and childhood pictures. Despite the backlash, Khelif went on to win the gold medal in the women's welterweight boxing category. Following her Olympic success, she announced plans to continue her career by moving up to the 70 kg weight class and aiming to compete again at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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