World boxes introduce gender tests after the Imane Khelif scandal

The World Boxing will introduce, as a mandatory measure, the gender tests for all the athletes who participate in its competitions, the young international federation recognized by the IOC, which will organize the Boxing Olympic Tournament in 2028 announced on Friday, writes AFP.

Following the controversy related to the participation of Algerian Imane Khelif, gold medal in Paris, at the 2024 Olympics, World Boxing explained in a statement that he made this decision to respond to ‘concerns and welfare of all boxers, including Imane Khelif’.

In the future, all athletes over the age of 18 wishing to participate in a competition organized by or under the aegis of World Boxing will be obliged to undergo a PCR genetic test to determine their sex and eligibility to compete, the organization added.

World Boxing mentioned that he also informed the Algerian Federation and the decision is also valid for Khelif, who will have to undergo such a test if he wants to compete in the ‘Box Cup’ competition, an event that will take place in Eindhoven (Holland) on June 5-10.

At the Paris Olympic Games, Imane Khelif, 26 years old, medal with women in women in the Welter category (66 kg), was at the center of a large scandal after receiving accusations that it would not be a biological woman.

The World Boxing policy is in the ‘final stages of elaboration’ and has been conceived by a working group ‘that analyzed the data and medical evidence from a wide range of sources and consulted other sports and experts around the world,’ the organization said.

‘World Boxing respects the dignity of all athletes, and its main priority is to provide safe and fair competitions for all competitors,’ the body added. « To achieve this it is essential to maintain and apply strict gender -based categories, which means that World Boxing will organize competitions only for athletes clearly classified as men or women. »