World Boxing Introduces Mandatory Sex Testing for Women’s Competitions
World Boxing, the global authority on boxing, announced a significant policy change on Wednesday aimed at ensuring fair competition in women’s boxing. This new regulation mandates sex testing for all athletes competing in the women’s category, a decision influenced by the controversy surrounding the Olympic gold medal victories of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, both of whom had previously failed sex tests.
The introduction of this policy follows widespread concerns about the participation of male athletes in women’s sports, which gained traction after the contentious Olympic events in Paris. In response to the backlash, World Boxing has taken proactive steps to prevent similar situations in future competitions.
Boris van der Vorst, President of World Boxing, emphasized the organization’s commitment to inclusivity while prioritizing safety and fairness in the sport. "In a combat sport like boxing, we have a duty to ensure competitiveness and safety," he stated. "This long and thorough process was essential to address the medical, legal, and sporting implications of athlete eligibility. Our new policy on ‘Sex, Age, and Weight’ will uphold sporting integrity and safeguard all participants."
Recognizing that eligibility concerns are particularly pronounced in women’s events, World Boxing is implementing this policy for female athletes first, starting with the upcoming World Boxing Championships. National federations have been informed to initiate the necessary testing procedures.
Under the new regulations, national teams will be responsible for confirming the biological sex of their athletes through PCR or equivalent genetic screening tests. Failure to provide certification of an athlete’s chromosomal sex will render them ineligible to compete and may lead to sanctions against both the athlete and their national team. This mandatory testing will take effect in time for the 2025 World Boxing Championships, scheduled to begin on September 4 in Liverpool.
In a letter addressed to the Algerian Boxing Federation in May, World Boxing informed Khelif that she would need to pass a sex test to compete in the Eindhoven Box Cup in June. Ultimately, Khelif chose to forgo the tournament.
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in on the topic during a press conference on August 5, stating that there would be "strong forms of testing" in place for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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About the Author:
Jackson Thompson is a seasoned sports writer for Fox News Digital, with previous experience at ESPN and Business Insider. He has covered major sporting events, including the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed numerous sports legends, including Usain Bolt and Jerry Rice.
