World Boxing: New Gender Test for Women

The measure will be introduced at the world championships in Liverpool from September 4-14, as part of the organisation's new eligibility policy, with testing expected to be introduced in the men's category from January 1, 2026.

World Boxing, the global governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee on March 20, said the new rules are designed to ensure the safety of all participants and create a fair and equal playing field for both men and women.

World Boxing: New Gender Test for Women

All athletes over the age of 18 who wish to compete in a World Boxing competition must undergo a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test or equivalent genetic test to determine their sex at birth and confirm their eligibility to compete. There will be 10 women’s weight classes at Liverpool, and anyone who wishes to compete will need to undergo a PCR test or equivalent to confirm their eligibility to compete.

Following an announcement on May 30, World Boxing became the first international federation to make the measure mandatory. After internal consultations with experts and taking into account the incidents at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, where boxers previously declared ineligible by the International Boxing Association were allowed to compete at the world championships, the organization decided to implement the initiative. The initiative is now in effect in the women's division.

The IBA condemned the events, sparking controversy around the Olympic competition. Attention then focused on Algeria's Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-Ting, who were both disqualified from the 2023 women's world championships for failing to meet the federation's gender criteria. Both won gold in Paris, but the controversy persisted. Their participation sparked global controversy.

Nearly a year later, the International Boxing Association (IBA) adopted the new policy, and other federations, such as World Athletics, have announced similar measures.

Under the new policy, World Boxing will operate two gender-based categories: male and female. To qualify for the male category, an athlete must be born male. For the female category, an athlete must be born female. PCR is a testing technique used to detect specific genetic material. In this case, it is used to detect the SRY gene, which indicates the presence of the Y chromosome and therefore biological sex. The test can be performed using a nasal or oral swab, saliva or blood sample.

Athletes born male, through the presence of a Y chromosome (SRY gene) or differences in sex development (DSD) involving androgenization, will be eligible to compete in the male category. Athletes born female, through the presence of an XX chromosome or the absence of a Y chromosome (SRY gene), or with DSD without androgenization, will be eligible to compete in the female category.

As the governing body announced in March, national federations are responsible for conducting tests and must confirm the gender of athletes when registering for world boxing competitions. They must also provide a chromosomal sex certificate, determined by PCR or equivalent testing.

Failure to provide an athlete's chromosomal sex certificate, or submitting a false certificate, will disqualify the athlete from competing and may result in sanctions against the athlete and/or their national federation.

If a woman’s test results indicate the presence of a Y chromosome and the possibility of DSD, the initial analysis will be forwarded to World Boxing’s expert medical panel for further testing, such as genetic studies, hormone profiling, anatomical exploration and other endocrine assessments. The policy includes an appeals process and support for female boxers who receive adverse results.

World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst said: "World Boxing respects the dignity of all individuals and strives to ensure the greatest possible inclusion. However, in a combat sport like boxing, we have a responsibility to prioritise safety and fair play, two principles that have guided the development of this policy."

These policies, he added, “will promote sporting integrity and protect the safety of all participants.”

He explained why they were initially introduced in the women's category: "We have seen that the eligibility issues in boxing tend to be more pronounced in women's competitions, so we decided to introduce this policy in the women's category first, and then at the next World Boxing Championships. This decision was communicated to our member National Federations long ago so that they could start the testing process."

Van der Vorst also thanked the working group and national federations for their efforts and commitment. The decision is in line with the report presented to the 79th United Nations General Assembly last October on violence against women and girls. In the report, Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem called for mandatory sex testing in sport.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/quyen-anh-the-gioi-xet-nghiem-gioi-tinh-moi-o-nu-20250828143621506.htm