World Boxing Makes Sex Test Mandatory

Imane Khelif winning the 66 kg women’s welterweight boxing in the last Paris Olympics was something of a shock to the system. In 2023, the International Boxing Association had disqualified her after a failed gender test but the International Olympics Committee had allowed her to participate. Khelif herself claimed she was born a woman and had always participated in women’s sports. After her victory, many felt Khelif should not be fighting women because of the stark difference in power. One of her opponents said she had never been hit that hard.

While there had been increasing concern about women’s sports opening itself to transgender athletes, an Olympic medal, despite Khelif’s claim about herself, became a flashpoint to what women were being deprived of. Khelif however might not be able to compete in the next Olympics because World Boxing has announced that sex tests would be mandatory before participation. In fact, it specifically wrote to the Algerian Boxing Federation, where Khelif comes from, that she would have to clear the test which would leave no room for doubt.

All boxing athletes above 18, according to the new policy, would have to undergo a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) genetic test. A release by the organization stated, ‘The PCR test is a laboratory technique used to detect specific genetic material, in this case the SRY gene, that reveals 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.’ It added that only athletes who are 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.’

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