World Boxing Chief apologises to Imane Khelif over sex testing disclosure
World Boxing has issued a formal apology to Olympic gold medallist Imane Khelif after publicly naming her in an announcement regarding mandatory sex testing for athletes. The decision to single out Khelif, who secured gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, sparked significant backlash over concerns of privacy and discrimination.
Formal apology issued
In a letter addressed to the Algerian Boxing Federation, World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst expressed sincere regret for the incident. "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," he stated.
He further added, "Reaching out to you personally we show our true respect to you and your athletes."
Chromosome test details emerge
The controversy stems from a leaked 2023 chromosome test conducted by Dr Lal PathLabs in New Delhi, which allegedly indicated that Khelif possesses XY chromosomes, typically associated with male biology. This led to her disqualification from the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships.
According to 3 Wire Sports, “In chromosome tests given amid the International Boxing Association’s 2022 and 2023 world championships, the boxer’s DNA showed XY markers with ‘male’ karyotype.”
Karyotype refers to the complete set of chromosomes in a person’s cells. Humans typically have 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs. The 23rd pair determines biological sex: XX denotes female, while XY indicates male.
Despite this, Khelif was permitted to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won gold, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) accepted her female passport designation.
The IOC's decision faced criticism, with concerns raised about the fairness and safety of allowing athletes with such test results to compete in women's categories.
Implementation of mandatory testing policy
In response to ongoing debates over gender eligibility in sports, World Boxing announced the introduction of mandatory sex testing for all athletes over 18 years of age. The policy requires athletes to undergo a PCR genetic test using a nasal or mouth swab, saliva, or blood sample to determine eligibility for male or female categories.
The policy aims to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women. However, the specific mention of Khelif in the announcement was met with criticism, leading to the subsequent apology from World Boxing.
Khelif's response and ongoing debate
Imane Khelif has consistently denied being biologically male and has expressed her commitment to fair sport. She is reportedly pursuing legal action over what she describes as defamatory attacks.