French Boxers Excluded from World Championships Over Testing Delay
French female boxers were barred from competing in Liverpool at the first World Boxing Championships after missing the deadline to submit genetic sex test results. The French boxing federation (FFBoxe) stated that the requirement conflicted with French law.
The organizing body, World Boxing, did not comment on individual cases but confirmed that all federations had been informed of the policy ahead of time. The competition's participant list, published before Thursday’s opening rounds, included no French athletes.
FFBoxe said it was notified on 21 July that all female competitors needed to provide a "femininity test" during registration. However, French law prevents the federation from conducting such tests without a medical prescription, whether domestically or abroad. Following World Boxing’s suggestion, FFBoxe sought testing at a laboratory in Leeds, but the results were delayed despite assurances they would be ready within 24 hours.
“As a result, our athletes, along with others from foreign delegations facing similar issues, have been excluded,” FFBoxe said in a statement. “This is a profound injustice. Our boxers are being penalized for administrative failures and a policy that was communicated far too late.”
World Boxing stated that all federations were reminded on 21 August that test results could take 48 hours to process, with a 1 September deadline to avoid disqualification. “If testing is needed in the UK, consider your travel plans accordingly,” the organization said.
The body added that it had assisted multiple national federations in accessing testing facilities across the UK in recent weeks, with many athletes successfully completing the process.
World Boxing, which will govern the sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, made genetic testing mandatory in May for female athletes over 18 to verify competition eligibility. Its president, Boris van der Vorst, emphasized that the policy ensures fairness and safety.
An FFBoxe spokesperson said Thursday that the test results had still not arrived and that the federation was exploring an appeal. The French boxer Maëlys Richol expressed frustration on Instagram, calling the situation heartbreaking. “A year of hard work wasted due to mismanagement. We are angry and devastated,” she wrote.
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