The Boxing Association recognized by the IOC has announced mandatory gender tests – with direct consequences for Olympic champion IMANE KHELIF.
“The introduction of the tests is part of a new guideline to gender, age and weight to ensure the security of all participants and to create equal competitive conditions for men and women”, It was said in a statement published on Monday (02.06.2025).
For Khelif, who had been at the center of a violent gender debate at the 2024 games in Paris, the first consequences. World Boxing announced that the Algerian was only approved for the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup (June 5th to June 10th) if she had previously carried out the intended test. The Algerian National Association was informed about this, according to World Boxing.
Interest due to tests from World boxing predecessor
The debate about Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan had caused massive vertebrae at Olympia in Paris. Both boxers were excluded by the 2023 World Cup after the IBA Association, which is no longer recognized by the IOC. According to the IBA, both would not have met the necessary participation criteria and “Compared to other female participants, competitive advantages“Had.
The IOC called it one “Arbitrary decision without proper procedure” And had Khelif and Lin participate in Paris. For many sports, the gender given in the passport was decisive for admission to the competitions, was a reason. Both won gold.
World Boxing, which was recognized as a partner in February by the Executive Council of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is now making more specific rules. “These new participation rules were developed with the express goal of protecting athletes in martial arts, especially in view of the physical risks associated with Olympic boxes”, the association wrote for explanation.
IOC wants boxing in Olympic program hold
According to this, all athletes over the age of 18 who take part in an event operated by World Boxing should have a PCR genre test to determine their births and their competition authorization. The test can be carried out by nasal or oral smear and via saliva or blood.
For the organization of the boxing tournaments in Paris in 2024 and three years earlier in Tokyo, the IOC had taken responsibility after the IBA suspension. In 2028 in Los Angeles, World Boxing would take over. The outgoing IOC boss Thomas Bach had emphasized in Paris that you want to keep boxing in the Olympic program – but only with a reliable partner.