Imane Khelif has the option to challenge World Boxing’s ruling preventing her from participating in events unless she completes genetic sex verification, but the Algerian boxer has not registered for the world championships in Liverpool, according to World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst.
World Boxing, the organization responsible for overseeing the sport in the 2028 Olympics, made sex testing compulsory for all competitors in May. This decision came less than a year after Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting triumphed in Paris amid a dispute over eligibility rules.
On Tuesday, Khelif filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest authority in sports disputes, to contest World Boxing’s requirement for athletes to undergo a PCR-based genetic test. “She has the right to pursue this,” Van der Vorst stated Wednesday.
“Our priority is ensuring competitions are safe, competitive, and fair,” he said. “The testing policy was announced in May, and we apply it equally. Every participant must provide necessary documentation, including the sex verification results.”
The World Boxing Championships begin in Liverpool on Thursday. Asked whether Khelif would have failed the test, Van der Vorst replied, “It’s premature to speculate. Her federation did not enter her for this event.”
The Algerian Boxing Federation has not commented on the matter.
World Boxing also confirmed that Taiwan’s Lin would not compete in the championships. “She was not included in her national federation’s entry list,” Van der Vorst added.
In June, Van der Vorst apologized after World Boxing singled out Khelif in its testing announcement. However, he maintained that the policy was necessary to guarantee “safe and fair competitions.”
“We oversee both amateur and Olympic boxing. This defines our purpose—preserving boxing’s future in the Olympics,” he said. “Combat sports must prioritize safety and fairness. Implementing these measures demonstrates our commitment to protecting women’s boxing.”
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