World Boxing have apologised for naming Imane Khelif directly as the governing body announced it will introduce mandatory sex testing for boxers, while confirming past results will not be under review.
Khelif was at the centre of a bitter storm during last year’s Olympics, with controversy over the 25-year-old and Taiwan‘s Lin Yu-ting‘s participation at the Games.
Both boxers had been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships run by the International Boxing Association (IBA), the former governing body for the sport.
The IBA had claimed Khelif and Lin had failed gender eligibility tests, leading to their disqualification from the event.
Amid a debate over whether Lin and Khelif should be allowed to compete at the Olympics, the two fighters would go on to win gold in the featherweight and welterweight events respectively.
World Boxing, who are now the governing body for the sport, announced on Friday that it will introduce mandatory sex testing for male and female boxers who want to take part in competitions.
World Boxing announced last week that Imane Khelif must undergone sex testing to compete in events
Khelif won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games last year amid a row over her eligibility
World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst has apologised for Khelif being named in the announcement
The governing body’s announcement confirmed Khelif is unable to compete at this month’s Eindhoven Box Cup unless she undergoes mandatory sex testing.
World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst has now written to the federation to apology for Khelif being specifically named, admitting ‘her privacy should have been respected’.
‘I am writing to you following the recent World Boxing statement referencing Imane Khelif being excluded from competing in the forthcoming Eindhoven Box Cup 5-10 June 2025,’ the letter read.
‘As part of World Boxing’s communications activity around this decision, Imane was identified by name. I am writing to you all personally to offer a formal and sincere apology for this and acknowledge that her privacy should have been protected.
‘To offer some broader context on this, the statement was intended as part of a wider announcement relating to the planned introduction of mandatory sex testing as part of a new policy on “Sex Age and Weight” that World Boxing is in process of finalising.
‘This policy is intended to apply universally to all male and female athletes and is designed to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for all men and women.’
The governing body also confirmed past performances results achieved by boxers will not be under review. This comes amid a call from JK Rowling to strip Khelif of her Olympic gold medal.
Van der Vorst concluded the letter with another apology and offered to hold talks with the Algerian Boxing Federation around its new measures.
The World Boxing president issued an apology to the Algerian Boxing Federation on Monday
The letter confirms past results achieved by boxers will not be reviewed despite the new rules
An initial letter confirming that Khelif must undergo sex screening remains on World Boxing’s website
The initial announcement had included the publication of a letter sent to the Algerian Boxing Federation, explaining the requirement for Khelif to undergo sex screening to continue to be able to compete.
‘Imane Khelif may not participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup, 5-10 June 2025 and any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes genetic sex screening in accordance with World Boxing’s rules and testing procedures,’ the letter read.
‘In accordance with the World Boxing Statutes, amendments to the Competition Rules are typically made by Congress. However, under special or emergency circumstances, the World Boxing Executive Board holds the authority to make immediate amendments when a rule is deemed no longer functional or when evolving conditions necessitate a change.
‘In May 2025, the Executive Board exercised this authority and adopted new eligibility criteria for participation in sex-specific boxing categories. 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.
‘Please be advised that, per World Boxing policy, “…in the event the athlete’s sex certification is challenged by the athlete’s federation or by World Boxing, the athlete shall be ineligible to compete until the dispute is resolved…’
The new policy will require all athletes over the age of 18 to undergo a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) genetic test to determine their sex at birth and their eligibility to compete.
The governing body said the PCR test is a laboratory technique used to detect specific genetic material, with the SRY gene revealing the presence of the Y chromosome, which is an indicator of biological sex. The test can be a be conducted by nasal/mouth swab, saliva or blood.
‘Athletes that are deemed to be male at birth, as evidenced by the presence of Y chromosome genetic material (the SRY gene) or with a difference of sexual development (DSD) where male androgenization occurs, will be eligible to compete in the male category,’ World Boxing said.
A ‘leaked’ medical report reportedly revealed Khelif’s 2023 failed gender eligibility test
3 Wire Sports published an alleged excerpt of the gender eligibility test Khelif underwent
JK Rowling, who has been vocal on Khelif’s situation in the past, claimed Khelif should be stripped of Olympic gold
‘Athletes that are deemed to be female at birth, as evidenced by the presence of XX chromosomes or the absence of Y chromosome genetic material (the SRY gene) or with a DSD where male androgenization does not occur, will be eligible to compete in the female category.
‘World Boxing respects the dignity of all individuals and its overriding priority is to ensure safety and competitive fairness to all athletes. To do this, it is essential that strict categories, determined by sex are maintained and enforced, and means that World Boxing will only operate competitions for athletes categorised as male or female.
‘Under the new policy, National Federations will be responsible for testing and will be required to confirm the sex of their athletes when entering them into World Boxing competitions by providing a certification of their chromosomal sex, as determined by a PCR test.
‘A failure to provide certification of the chromosomal sex of an athlete or the provision of a false certification, will render the athlete ineligible to compete and may lead to sanctions against the athlete and/or the athlete’s National Federation.
‘Where test results for boxers that want to compete in the female category reveal Y chromosome genetic material and a potential DSD, the initial screenings will be referred to independent clinical specialists for genetic screening, hormonal profiles, anatomical examination or other valuation of endocrine profiles by medical specialists.’
The organisation added its new policy, which comes into force from July 1, will include an appeals process while support will be given to athletes that provide an adverse result.
Following the publication of the new rules, a ‘leaked’ medical report was published which claimed to have found Imane Khelif to be ‘biologically male’ in 2023.
The alleged medical test on Khelif at the 2023 World Championships said that ‘chromsome analysis reveals male karotype’ – an XY chromosome pair.
Khelif has been engulfed in controversy but has targeted competing at the Olympics in Los Angeles
Since her win, Khelif has appeared on a number of television programmes defending herself
Khelif always insisted on being female and the IOC allowed athletes to compete at the Parisian Games based on the sex stated on their passport.
Now the IOC has broken its silence on the ‘leaked’ report which declares Khelif as having a ‘male karotype,’ as reportedly seen by 3 Wire Sports.
‘The IOC has always made it clear that eligibility criteria are the responsibility of the respective International Federation,’ a spokesperson told Mail Sport.
‘The factors that matter to sports performance are unique to each sport, discipline, and/or event.
‘We await the full details of how sex testing will be implemented in a safe, fair, and legally enforceable way.’
