World Boxing Mandates Sex Testing

World Boxing, the new international governing body for Olympic-style boxing, has introduced a mandatory genetic sex testing policy for all athletes over 18 years old to ensure fair competition and safety. This policy, effective July 1, requires a PCR genetic test to determine an athlete's sex at birth. The announcement specifically targets Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif, stating she must undergo this screening to participate in future women's events, including the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup. Khelif, who won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, has been at the center of a gender eligibility controversy, having been disqualified by the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IBA) in 2023 but cleared by the International Rescue Committee (IOC) for the Paris Games. The new rules stipulate that athletes with Y chromosome genetic material or differences of sexual development (DSD) where male androgenization occurs will be eligible to compete in the male category. The policy includes an appeals process and national federations are responsible for administering the tests.