The president of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, has issued a formal apology after Algerian Olympic champion Imane Khelif was named in an announcement making sex testing compulsory for boxers. Khelif, who claimed gold at the Paris Games last year, faced scrutiny regarding her eligibility and was specifically identified as part of the new regulations.
In his letter to the Algerian Boxing Federation, van der Vorst acknowledged that naming Khelif infringed upon her privacy and stated, “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 expressed the hope that by reaching out personally, he could demonstrate respect for Khelif and her fellow athletes.
During the Paris Olympics, Khelif and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan were under the spotlight after the International Boxing Association disqualified them from the 2023 World Championships, citing an unspecified eligibility test failure. However, the International Olympic Committee later approved their participation based on previous Olympic sex eligibility standards.
World Boxing has been provisionally approved to oversee the boxing events for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, but the federation is facing pressure to establish clear sex eligibility regulations. In response, it announced that from July 1, all athletes over the age of 18 in its competitions would be required to undergo mandatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to confirm their sex at birth. This test identifies chromosomal material through methods such as mouth swabs, saliva, or blood samples.
Should an athlete intending to compete in the women’s category be found to possess male chromosomal material, their case will undergo further evaluation by independent clinical specialists. This will include genetic screenings and assessments of hormonal profiles, among other medical evaluations. The governing body has also established a process for athletes to appeal decisions related to these tests.
Khelif intends to defend her Olympic gold at the upcoming LA Games. However, her inclusion in the competition has already faced opposition from some boxers and boxing federations. She had planned to return to international competition this month at the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands.