World Boxing shocked boxing fans with an announcement. To compete in the next world championship, female boxers must undergo tests. The new rule will take effect during the boxing tournament in Liverpool, England, from September 4 to 14.
The organization’s decision sparked huge controversy among female fighters. Some support it, while others raise concerns about safety, inclusion, and fairness in this contact sport.
Athlete safety comes first
According to Mundo Deportivo, World Boxing ordered all women competing in the female boxing category to take genetic tests to identify the presence of the Y chromosome. The measure aims to guarantee the fighters’ safety in the ring.
Boris Van Der Vorst, president of the body, stated that the decision promotes fairness and protection of athletes, which remains the top priority. He added that it also prevents issues like those faced by Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, who both faced eligibility questions in recent tournaments. Khelif even withdrew from a competition after learning about the initial measure.
5. Polémica Imane Kheliff
La boxeadora argelina Imane Kheliff se vio envuelta en una polémica por su apariencia masculina. La llamaron transexual cuando no lo era, pese a que la Asociación de Boxeo Internacional (IBA, en inglés) la expulsara del mundial 2023 por no superar las… pic.twitter.com/ftmMxNSkwp— Padronso (@TitoPadronso) August 12, 2024
Under World Boxing policy, athletes with differences in sexual development and signs of masculinization may only compete in the men’s division. Those who wish to fight in the women’s division must submit to the mandatory medical evaluations to confirm their biological sex.
National federations will carry out the tests and must present results before each tournament. This way, the legal and administrative burden falls on both local bodies and World Boxing.
Boxing is not the only sport applying such rules. In 2023, athletics reintroduced similar policies.
This announcement places boxing in line with other sports and represents a turning point ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, raising questions about the future of female participation in international boxing competitions.
