World Boxing’s Gender Testing Policy Sparks New Debate

(The Post News)-World Boxing has announced a controversial new policy that will see all male and female athletes over the age of 18 undergo mandatory gender testing before competing in its events. This decision follows growing scrutiny around eligibility in women’s competitions, especially after the case of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif at last year’s Paris Olympics.

The federation, which will oversee boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, says the move aims to ensure fairness in competition. Athletes will now need to complete a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to confirm their chromosomal sex, specifically looking for the presence or absence of the SRY gene, which indicates a Y chromosome.

The tests can be done through a nasal or oral swab, saliva, or blood sample, and national federations will be responsible for conducting and certifying the results. This certification will be required when entering athletes into any World Boxing-sanctioned event.

The policy comes after controversy surrounded Khelif, a women’s welterweight gold medalist, whose eligibility was questioned during the Paris Games. World Boxing confirmed it had reached out to the Algerian Boxing Federation, stating that Khelif will not be permitted to compete in the women’s category at the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands unless she undergoes the required sex testing.

While World Boxing frames this policy as a step toward clarity and fairness, it is already sparking debate about privacy, ethics, and the broader implications for athletes whose identities and careers may now be placed under greater scrutiny.