London: World Boxing has introduced mandatory genetic sex testing for all athletes competing in its events, a controversial move aimed at ensuring a level playing field in men’s and women’s divisions.
The new eligibility policy, announced Friday, immediately affects Algerian Olympic gold medallist Imane Khelif, who will be barred from competition until she undergoes testing.
Khelif, who won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics amid a gender-eligibility dispute, will not be allowed to compete at the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup from June 5-10, World Boxing confirmed in a statement.
The global body said it had formally notified the Algerian Boxing Federation of the decision, pending Khelif’s compliance with its new screening requirements.
World Boxing will introduce mandatory sex testing, to determine the eligibility of male and female athletes that want to take part in its competitions.
For full story, click here: https://t.co/L9nn6wxEdj #TimeForWorldBoxing pic.twitter.com/66OhsWiEbp
— World Boxing (@RealWorldBoxing) May 30, 2025
Under the new policy, all boxers over the age of 18 must submit to a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to detect the SRY gene, an indicator of the Y chromosome used to determine biological sex.
Athletes identified as male at birth or those with differences in sexual development (DSD) involving male androgenization will compete in the men’s division. Conversely, athletes deemed female at birth or with non-male androgenized DSDs will be eligible for the women’s category.
World Boxing, granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and expected to govern boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, said the policy was enacted under special executive authority due to emergency circumstances.
The move follows Khelif’s disqualification from the 2023 World Championships by the now-decertified International Boxing Association (IBA), despite being cleared by the IOC to compete in Paris. Khelif has previously asserted she is not transgender and has vowed to defend her title in Los Angeles.
