The body has also banned a 2024 Olympics gold medal winner from future events until she is tested
Amateur boxers aiming for the Olympics will now face sex chromosome testing, under a new rule introduced by World Boxing, the sport’s international governing body.
The federation, which will oversee boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, has specifically stated that Algeria’s Imane Khelif – an athlete whose eligibility to compete as a woman at the 2024 Paris Olympics was questioned – will not be able to participate until her genetic sex is verified.
The new measure will “determine the eligibility of male and female athletes that want to take part,” World Boxing announced on its website on Friday, explaining that the test is aimed at ensuring the “safety of all participants and… a competitive level playing field for men and women.”
The tests are in the final stages of development, the body said, adding the new rules will come into force on July 1.
Those with “Y chromosome genetic material… or with a difference of sexual development (DSD) where male androgenization occurs, will be eligible to compete in the male category,” World Boxing said. The procedure will involve an appeals process and additional tests in case of any disagreements.
The decision to introduce the new rules was taken by the body’s executive board in May, the organization said, citing what it called “emergency circumstances” and “physical risks associated with Olympic-style boxing.” National federations will be responsible for testing and can be subjected to sanctions if they fail to test or provide fake certifications.
The 25-year-old Khelif found herself at the center of controversy at the Paris Olympics when she defeated Italian boxer Angela Carini in just 46 seconds in a preliminary bout, sparking outrage online. She went on to win the gold medal in women’s boxing.
According to Algeria, Khelif is not transgender but is affected by a medical condition characterized by a high level of testosterone and the presence of XY chromosomes. She failed a gender test and had been disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) – the federation that previously oversaw Olympic boxing. However, she was still cleared to compete at the Paris Olympics later.
Khelif herself denied all the allegations and even filed a lawsuit over alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” by several prominent figures, including Elon Musk and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.
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