World Boxing is walking on eggshells. Supported by the IOC For the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, the IF has taken up a very delicate subject by announcing the introduction of mandatory gender tests May 30. A much trickier press release to write than those we've become accustomed to, regarding the growth in the number of member federations (currently 106). Despite a number of precautions, World Boxing made a mistake by specifically citing Olympic champion Imane Khelif, who was under fire for accusations during the Paris 2024 Games. This understandably caused a lot of ink to flow.
“Provide fair conditions of competition”
World Boxing justified the use of these genetic tests in order to " ensure the safety of all participants and provide fair competition conditions for men and women "According to the federation's new policy, which is due to come into effect in July, all athletes over the age of 18 wishing to participate in a competition organised or recognised by World Boxing will have to undergo a PCR genetic test to determine their category.
Athletes with Y chromosome genetic material or a difference of sex development (DSD) with male androgenization will compete in the men's category. The women's category will be based on the presence of XX chromosomes, the absence of Y chromosome genetic material, or DSD without male androgenization. National federations will be responsible for these tests and must provide certification of their athletes' chromosomal sex before competitions.
In its initial statement (which it later amended), the IF only mentioned one name, Imane Khelif, indicating that the Paris 2024 Olympic champion would have to take this test in order to be able to box in Eindhoven (June 5-10). It specified that it thus wanted " protect the mental and physical health of all participants in light of certain reactions expressed regarding the boxer's potential participation in the Eindhoven Box Cup " A competition that the Algerian ultimately did not compete in.
World Boxing will introduce mandatory sex testing, to determine the eligibility of male and female athletes that want to take part in its competitions.
— World Boxing (@RealWorldBoxing) May 30, 2025
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The FI made its mea culpa five days after its first press release. World Boxing acknowledges that it should not have named this individual and, as a result, the President of World Boxing has written personally to the President of the Algerian Boxing Federation to offer a formal and sincere apology, acknowledging that more effort should have been made to avoid linking politics to any particular individual., we can read in the press release. World Boxing assures that it has taken into account " medical data and elements from a wide range of sources " in order to establish its policy.
Determined to clear its name in the conflict with the IOC, the International Boxing Association (IBA) rejoices and takes the opportunity to reposition himself. " The IBA is pleased to see that the only correct approach has been adopted by other boxing bodies. The united response from all boxing bodies was absolutely necessary; we welcome the most recent statements to embrace the eligibility processes that the IBA has already established. » The federation had disqualified the Algerian from the 2023 World Championships following a gender test.
She assures that World Boxing will receive " identical results " and looks forward to " formal apologies from the athletes " which have harmed the " legitimate female boxers " The approach touted by the IBA, which WB is moving towards, was nevertheless swept aside by the IOC when the institution decided to allow Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting to box at the Olympics. By taking on an important but extremely sensitive issue, World Boxing has put its finger in a very complex mechanism. The details of its new policy on age, weight, and gender will be closely scrutinized.
