The president of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, has issued a formal apology following the controversial announcement that made sex testing mandatory for athletes. This announcement particularly singled out Olympic champion Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer who secured a gold medal at the Paris Games last summer amidst scrutiny regarding her eligibility.
On Friday, World Boxing released a new policy mandating sex testing for all boxers. The announcement specifically mentioned Khelif, which drew widespread criticism. In response to the backlash, van der Vorst reached out to the Algerian Boxing Federation on Monday, expressing regret for not protecting Khelif's privacy. “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 in a letter obtained by The Associated Press.
Van der Vorst further emphasized the importance of respect for athletes, stating, “By reaching out to you personally, we show our true respect to you and your athletes.” This apology comes at a critical time as World Boxing seeks to establish itself as a credible governing body in the sport.
Khelif, along with fellow gold medalist Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan, was under scrutiny during the Paris Games due to actions taken by the previous governing body, the International Boxing Association (IBA). Both athletes were disqualified from the 2023 world championships based on an unspecified eligibility test. However, the International Olympic Committee intervened, applying previous Olympic sex eligibility rules and clearing both Khelif and Lin to compete.
World Boxing has been provisionally recognized as the official boxing organization for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Games. Faced with increasing pressure from boxers and their federations, the organization announced mandatory testing for all boxers starting July 1. This policy aims to ensure the safety of all participants and maintain a competitive level playing field for both men and women.
As part of the new policy, athletes over 18 years old participating in World Boxing competitions will be required to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic test to determine their sex at birth. This test can be conducted via a mouth swab, saliva, or blood sample. If an athlete competing in women's categories is found to have male chromosomal material, the initial screenings will be referred to independent clinical specialists for further genetic screening, hormonal profiles, and anatomical examinations.
Despite the controversy, Imane Khelif has expressed her intention to defend her gold medal at the upcoming LA Games. However, the ongoing debates regarding sex testing have led some boxers and their federations to voice concerns over her participation. Khelif had planned to return to international competition this month at the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands, but her future remains uncertain amidst these developments.
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