Latest news with #WorldBoxingOrganization
International Business Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- International Business Times
FACT CHECK: Was Imane Khelif Banned by World Boxing Organization Until Passing Genetic Sex Verification Test?
Has Imane Khelif been proved biologically male and banned from taking part in any boxing match? A claim surfaced over the weekend that World Boxing, a separate governing body from the World Boxing Organization, — announced that Khelif would be barred from participating in its competitions until passing a genetic sex verification test. In 2023, just hours before her final match for the gold medal at the Women's World Boxing Championships, the International Boxing Association (IBA) claims without valid proof that Algerian boxer Khelif did not meet the eligibility criteria to compete in the women's division. A year later, Khelif went on to win gold at the Summer Olympics amid conyroversy. Fresh Claims About Khelif's Gender Khelif's win sparked backlash from anti-transgender figures, including author J.K. Rowling and conservative political leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed she was male. Fresh claims appeared in May 2025, with social media posts circulating that the World Boxing Organization (WBO)—a different regulatory body—had permanently banned Khelif from competition and revoked her medals and prize earnings, claiming she is male. However, the claim is false. World Boxing Organization President Gustavo Olivieri clarified in an email to fact checking website Snopes that the WBO does not oversee amateur or Olympic-style boxing events. He explained that the organization is only involved in regulating professional boxing bouts. "Accordingly, any claims suggesting that the WBO has imposed a ban on amateur boxers are patently false," Olivieri wrote. "The WBO does not oversee amateur boxing, nor does it have the authority to regulate or restrict the participation of amateur athletes in non-professional competitions." The statement was consistent with an earlier press release issued by the WBO in October 2024, which confirmed that the organization "had not tested, nor had it banned female boxer Imane Khelif." Claim Completely False Professional and amateur boxing has significant rule differences— for instance, professional matches involve prize money. According to a report from Sports Illustrated in October 2024, Khelif has only taken part in one professional fight, which took place in Singapore in 2023 that she won. On May 30, 2025, World Boxing — a separate governing body formed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to replace the IBA due to serious corruption concerns — announced that all athletes must undergo genetic sex verification before competing. The organization specifically named Khelif in its statement. Meanwhile, a new lab report leaked on Monday that suggests Khelif is biologically male. Khelif was found to have XY chromosomes, according to the leaked findings from a 2023 examination conducted by a certified Indian doctor. The test results prompted the Russian-led boxing federation to disqualify Khelif from competing in the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championship in India. Despite the controversy, Khelif was allowed to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics by the event's governing body, which sparked intense public debate. Khelif went on to win a gold medal at the Olympics. "Chromosome analysis reveal male karyotype," mentioned the document, referencing the presence of male chromosomes, according to the test results reported by 3 Wire Sports. The tests were conducted at Dr. Lal Path Labs in New Delhi, a facility accredited by the American College of Pathologists and certified by the International Organization for Standardization, according to The Telegraph. Despite the lab's credentials, officials at the Paris Olympics dismissed the findings as "not legitimate" when they allowed Khelif to compete, implying that Russian authorities may have spread false information about her in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage.
The Mainichi
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Boxing: Sasaki to fight Norman for welterweight world title in June
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese welterweight boxer Jin Sasaki will get his first shot at a world title when he challenges WBO champion Brian Norman Jr. of the United States on June 19 in Tokyo, organizers said Friday. If Sasaki, 23, ranked second by the World Boxing Organization, wins at Ota City General Gymnasium, he will become the first Japanese welterweight world champion under any sanctioning body. "It feels like a dream to have been booked for such a great match," Sasaki said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I'm going to win no matter what." "I think I was born to make history for Japan. Norman is really strong, but I have a chance. I'm only thinking about knocking him out."
Khaleej Times
11-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
From boxing rings to golf swings: Nicola Adams has first golf lessons
Nicola Adams, a double Olympic gold medalist and now a resident of Dubai, has officially swung into the world of golf. The former boxing champion recently took her first official shots at Golftec Dubai in City Walk, marking the exciting start of her golfing adventure. Adams is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2017 to 2019. She retired with an undefeated record and held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) female flyweight title in 2019. Embracing her new challenge, Adams said, 'When I commit to something, I really commit, as my boxing career shows. I'm excited to start this golfing journey with Haya.' She is taking a group of 10 lessons in a 'Buddy Golf Programme,' along with Golftec franchise owner for the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Saudi businesswoman, Haya AlSulaiman. The duo is being guided by Diarmaid Fraser, a certified Golftec coach based in Dubai. Haya expressed her excitement about Nicola's participation in the program, telling Khaleej Times, "We are excited to have Nicola at Golftec learning golf. She has had a brilliant sporting career, winning Olympic Gold Medals in the 2012 Games in London and retaining the title in 2016 in Rio. I am sure she will adapt to golf easily, and I'm looking forward to sharing her story and her journey with me. Together, we will learn the game of golf." Diarmaid shared his enthusiasm for the unique coaching model, saying, "I'm excited by this project. 'Buddy coaching' is the way forward for beginners. "Golf is a challenge at all levels and can be intimidating for any newcomer. I am convinced the Golftec model can fast-track the learning process for a determined starter. We all have bad days on the course, but having a 'Buddy' means learners can share both their successes and their setbacks." He continued, "We look forward to sharing the story of Haya and Nicola in the months ahead. Nicola had her assessment lesson last week, and not surprisingly, she showed huge potential. As a top athlete who remains incredibly fit, she is demonstrating the attributes that make her a natural for golf. With her 'Buddy' package, she has 24/7 access to practice in one of our five bay studios at City Walk, including a left-handed bay, perfect for Nicola. I'm confident Nicola will be the best at practice between lessons—that's what she does, and has always done." Nicola herself shared her thoughts on starting this new chapter, saying, "I've tried golf a bit before, including at Topgolf at Emirates Golf Club. I really like the game, and when I commit to something, I really commit, as my boxing career shows. I'm excited to start this golfing journey with Haya. 'It's a strange mix of me as an Olympian from England and Haya as a Saudi businesswoman. We'll start our lessons next week and keep everyone updated on how we're doing. Thanks to Haya, Golftec, and Diarmaid for all their support."
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Musk didn't threaten to withdraw support to boxing organization over Imane Khelif
Claim: Elon Musk threatened to withdraw support to the World Boxing Organization if it did not revoke a championship title and $25 million in prize money it had awarded to Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Rating: In February 2025, an old claim about tech billionaire Elon Musk threatening "to withdraw all support" for the World Boxing Organization re-emerged on Facebook. These posts asserted that Musk, now a special adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, demanded that the WBO revoke a championship title and prize money it had awarded Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Khelif became the target of attacks about her gender during the 2024 Olympics. The claim, which has been around since at least November 2024, saw new light in early 2025 as Musk's work with the Department of Government Efficiency ramped up. The claim is false. For one thing, Khelif has never won a WBO title. She has won (and has had revoked) championship title events sanctioned by the International Boxing Association. The gold medal she won at the 2024 Olympics was governed by the International Olympic Committee. Neither the WBO nor the IOC gives out prize money. Further, Snopes could not identify any evidence that Musk or the U.S. government has provided any "support" for the WBO that could, in fact, be withdrawn. The WBO is one of several bodies that sanction professional boxing matches. It is a private organization based in Puerto Rico. Musk, at the time of this reporting, has no live social media post mentioning the WBO. In October 2024, the WBO pushed back against similar claims that the organization had disqualified Khelif from competing in its events. In a news release, it wrote: The World Boxing Organization (WBO) informed that it had not tested, nor had it banned female boxer Imane Khelif, who won a gold medal during the boxing tournament of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. "The report claiming that the WBO had banned Khelif are obviously false. We have had no communication with Khelif. We congratulate her and wish her luck in all her future endeavors", said WBO legal counsel Gustavo Olivieri, Esq. today. "Any report stating otherwise is obviously fake and ill intentioned." Because there is no WBO championship title issued to Khelif that could be revoked, and because there is no evidence of any support to the WBO from Musk or any governmental entity that could be rescinded, the claim is false. "Disinformation Claims Elon Musk Demanded The Annulment Of Imane Khalif's Medal And Bonus | 10 Feb. 2025, "Home." WBO, Accessed 24 Feb. 2025. "Olympic Boxer Imane Khelif Fights Back as Boxing Association Files Suit in Gender Row." NBC News, 12 Feb. 2025, O'Rourke, Ciara. "Claim about Elon Musk, Imane Khelif Is False." @politifact, Accessed 24 Feb. 2025. WBO. "REPORTS THAT THE WBO HAS BANNED BOXER IMANE KHELIF ARE FALSE." WBO, 10 Oct. 2024,
Al Jazeera
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Dubois replaced by Bakole for Parker heavyweight fight in Saudi Arabia
World heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois has withdrawn from Saturday's title defence against Joseph Parker after falling ill. The 27-year-old, who holds the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title, underwent a medical examination in Saudi Arabia and missed a news conference on Thursday evening, prompting the decision overnight to pull out. Details of his health status have not been released. 'If he is ill, I hope he gets well soon, and I'm looking forward to Saturday and a great show,' said Parker, who will now face last-minute replacement Congolese fighter Martin Bakole. British-born Dubois took the interim belt in June by beating Filip Hrgovic and was upgraded to champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title due to his rematch clause with Tyson Fury. Dubois then defended his title in September with a knockout win over fellow Briton Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in London. Former world champion Parker, 33, claimed the World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title in 2016 by defeating Mexican Andy Ruiz. He lost the title to Joshua in 2018. Bakole was 'on his way' to Saudi Arabia from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bakole promoter Ben Shalom told Sky Sports in England. Promoter Frank Warren confirmed at Thursday's news conference in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, that the no-show by Dubois was because of a medical exam. 'Unfortunately at this moment in time, Daniel is being evaluated by a doctor, and when we have more news, we will share it with you and update you,' Warren said at the news conference. The first title defence by Dubois – a brutal fifth-round knockout of Joshua – was staged in front of a record 96,000 fans in the English capital. Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Beterbiev became the undisputed champion after a contentious points decision over Bivol in October.
