World Boxing will introduce necessary intercourse testing for all boxers in its competitions, the physique mentioned on Friday, including that Paris Olympics gold medalist Imane Khelif is not going to be allowed to compete till she undergoes such a check.
The worldwide physique, which is able to oversee boxing competitions within the 2028 Olympics after being granted provisional recognition by the IOC, mentioned it goals to ship a aggressive stage taking part in discipline for women and men.
The brand new coverage comes lower than a yr after Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting each gained gold in Paris amid a gender eligibility row.
“Imane Khelif might not take part within the feminine class at… any World Boxing occasion till Imane Khelif undergoes genetic intercourse screening in accordance with World Boxing’s guidelines and testing procedures,” World Boxing mentioned in a press release.
World Boxing mentioned that they had written to the Algerian Boxing Federation stating that Khelif wouldn’t be allowed to compete on the upcoming Eindhoven Field Cup from June 5-10 till she undergoes the check.
Girls’s welterweight Olympic champion Khelif couldn’t be reached for remark whereas the Algerian Boxing Federation didn’t instantly reply when contacted by Reuters.
The nation’s federation joined World Boxing in September, considered one of greater than 100 nationwide federations which have joined the physique because it was established in 2023.
Whereas amendments to competitors guidelines are usually carried out by the World Boxing Congress, the brand new coverage was adopted by the physique’s government board which holds the authority to make quick amendments beneath “particular or emergency circumstances”.
‘New eligibility guidelines’
“These new eligibility guidelines have been developed with the specific objective of safeguarding athletes in fight sports activities, significantly given the bodily dangers related to Olympic-style boxing,” it added.
All athletes over the age of 18 must undertake a PCR (polymerase chain response) genetic check, which may be carried out by a nasal or mouth swab, saliva or blood, World Boxing mentioned.
“The PCR check is a laboratory approach used to detect particular genetic materials, on this case the SRY gene, that reveals the presence of the Y chromosome, which is an indicator of organic intercourse,” World Boxing mentioned.
“Athletes which are deemed to be male at start, as evidenced by the presence of Y chromosome… or with a distinction of sexual improvement (DSD) the place male androgenization happens, shall be eligible to compete within the male class.
“Athletes which are deemed to be feminine at start… or with a DSD the place male androgenization doesn’t happen, shall be eligible to compete within the feminine class.”
In February, US President Donald Trump signed an government order banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’s sports activities.
In March, Khelif mentioned she was decided to defend her title on the 2028 Los Angeles Video games, including that she wouldn’t be intimidated by Trump as she will not be transgender.
On the 2023 world championships, Khelif was disqualified by the Worldwide Boxing Affiliation after a check that the physique mentioned rendered her ineligible to battle as a girl on the grounds of gender.
The IBA misplaced its Olympic recognition over governance points, nevertheless, and the Worldwide Olympic Committee cleared Khelif to compete in Paris. — Reuters