Paris.- World Boxingthe new International Federation of Boxing which has recognition of the International Olympic Committee (COI) and will organize the Los Angeles Games 2028 tournament, announced the gender tests to participate in their competitions.
The entity pointed out in a statement that made this decision to “concerns about the safety and well -being of all boxers, including Imane Khelif”, Algerian champion in its category in the Games of Paris 2024 and wrapped in a media case.
In the future, all boxers over 18 who wish to participate in a competition organized by World Boxing or that has their endorsement must undergo a PCR genetic test to determine their birth sex and eligibility to compete, the instance added.
World Boxing also indicated that he reported this measure to the Algerian Boxing Federation and that Imane Khelif must undergo a gender test if he wants to participate in the Box Cup of Eindhoven (Netherlands), scheduled from June 5 to 10.
“Strict categories”
In the Olympic Games last year in Paris, the 26 -year -old Algerian boxer was seen, in spite of, under a media storm in relation to its gender.
The fighter was accused of being “a man fighting against women.” Resisting the pressure, Khelif did not deviate from his goal and the gold medal was hung in the women’s category of -66 kg.
The World Boxing position on the question of gender has been set through a working group that has examined “data and medical tests from a range of sources and that has widely consulted with other sports and experts from around the world,” said the International Federation.
“World Boxing respects the dignity of all people and their absolute priority is to guarantee the security and equity of competitions for all athletes,” said the instance.
“To achieve this, it is essential that there are strict categories, determined by gender, which means that World Boxing will only organize competitions for athletes classified as men or women,” he added.
Chromosomal sex
The National Federations will be responsible for gender tests and must confirm the sex of their athletes when they are registered in competitions, providing a certificate of their chromosomal sex.
The PCR test that will be used is a laboratory technique that allows genetic specificities to be detected, including the presence of the chromosome and, indicator of biological sex. The test can be performed with a nasal or oral sample taking, or by saliva or blood.
Khelif’s case was not the only one who generated a stir in Paris 2024, where also the Taiwanese Lin Yu-Ting lived a similar episode. The Asian won the gold medal in the women’s category of -57 kg.
The two boxers, supported by the IOC, had not been able to participate in the 2023 World Cup by not being authorized by the International Boxing Federation (IBA), an organization chaired by the Russian Umar Kremlev and in conflict with the IOC for financial reasons, ethics and governance.
The COI last February his provisional recognition for World Boxing, an organization created in 2023 with the intention of assuming the leading role in his sport and being the organizer of the Olympic boxing since Los Angeles 2028.
