“Imane Khelif may not participate in the female category at \u2026 any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes genetic sex screening in accordance with World Boxing’s rules and testing procedures,” World Boxing said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“The introduction of mandatory testing will be part of a new policy on ‘Sex, Age and Weight’ to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women.”<\/p>\n
The new policy comes less than a year after Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting both won gold in Paris amid a gender-eligibility row.<\/p>\n
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Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting were both involved in a gender-eligibility row. (Reuters: Peter Cziborra\/AP: John Locher)<\/p>\n
World Boxing said they had written to the Algerian Boxing Federation stating that Khelif would not be allowed to compete at the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup from June 5\u201310 until she underwent the test.<\/p>\n
Women’s welterweight Olympic champion Khelif has not yet commented on the announcement, nor has the Algerian Boxing Federation.<\/p>\n
The country’s federation joined World Boxing in September, one of more than 100 national federations that have joined the body since it was established in 2023.<\/p>\n
While amendments to competition rules are typically done by the World Boxing Congress, the new policy was adopted by the body’s executive board, which holds the authority to make immediate amendments under “special or emergency circumstances”.<\/p>\n
New rules to safeguard athletes, says World Boxing<\/p>\n
“These new eligibility rules were developed with the express purpose of safeguarding athletes in combat sports, particularly given the physical risks associated with Olympic-style boxing,” World Boxing’s statement said.<\/p>\n
All athletes over the age of 18 will have to undertake a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) genetic test, which can be conducted by a nasal or mouth swab, saliva or blood, World Boxing said.<\/p>\n