Khelif must not start: Boxing world association introduces gender tests

The boxing association World Boxing recognized by the IOC has announced mandatory gender tests. “The introduction of the tests is part of a new guideline to gender, age and weight to ensure the security of all participants and to create equal competitive conditions for men and women,” said a published statement.

For the Olympic champion IMane Khelif, who was at the center of a violent gender debate at the 2024 games in Paris, this already has the first consequences. World Boxing announced that the Algerian was not approved for the Eindhoven Box Cup (June 5th to June 10th).

It should not take part in this event “and participate in all other World Boxing events until they have undergone a genetic gender according to the rules and test procedures of World Boxing,” said a letter to the Algerian National Association.

Interfestation because of tests from World Boxing predecessors

The debate about Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan had caused massive vertebrae at Olympia in Paris. Both boxers were excluded by the 2023 World Cup after the IBA Association, which is no longer recognized by the IOC. According to the IBA, both would not have met the necessary participation criteria and had “competitive advantages compared to other female participants”.

The IOC called it an “arbitrary decision without proper procedure” and had Khelif and Lin participate in Paris. For many sports, the gender given in the passport was decisive for admission to the competitions, was a reason. Both won gold.

World Boxing, which was recognized as a partner in February by the Executive Council of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is now making more specific rules. “These new participation rules were developed with the express goal of protecting athletes in martial arts, especially in view of the physical risks associated with Olympic boxes,” the association wrote for explanation.

IOC wants to keep boxing in the Olympic program

According to this, all athletes over the age of 18 who take part in an event operated by World Boxing should have a PCR genre test to determine their births and their competition authorization. The test can be carried out by nasal or oral smear and via saliva or blood.

For the organization of the boxing tournaments in Paris in 2024 and three years earlier in Tokyo, the IOC had taken responsibility after the IBA suspension. In 2028 in Los Angeles, World Boxing would take over. The outgoing IOC boss Thomas Bach had emphasized in Paris that you want to keep boxing in the Olympic program – but only with a reliable partner.