The pinnacle of World Boxing has apologised after the organisation singled out Imane Khelif in an announcement about making intercourse testing necessary.
The Algerian boxer was talked about by identify when the boxing physique launched its new coverage on Friday.
Khelif received gold on the Paris Video games final summer season amid scrutiny over a failed gender eligibility take a look at, which was carried out by a unique controversial boxing physique, the Worldwide Boxing Affiliation (IBA).
World Boxing is the brand new worldwide federation that can run boxing on the subsequent Olympic Video games.
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World Boxing’s president, Boris van der Vorst, contacted the Algerian Boxing Federation to apologise.
“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 wrote in a letter seen by The Related Press.
Van der Vorst added he hoped by “reaching out to you personally we show our true respect to you and your athletes”.
Picture:
Algeria’s Imane Khelif (left) celebrates victory over China’s Liu Yang on the 2024 Paris Olympics. Pic: PA.
World Boxing had stated there shall be necessary testing of all boxers from 1 July with a purpose to “ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women”.
All athletes over 18 years previous in its competitions should endure a polymerase chain response (PCR) genetic take a look at to find out their intercourse at delivery, it stated.
The take a look at detects chromosomal materials by a mouth swab, saliva or blood.
If an athlete desiring to compete within the girls’s classes is decided to have male chromosomal materials, “initial screenings will be referred to independent clinical specialists for genetic screening, hormonal profiles, anatomical examination or other valuation of endocrine profiles by medical specialists,” World Boxing stated.
An appeals course of can also be included within the coverage.
Khelif had meant to compete within the Eindhoven Field Cup within the Netherlands from 5 June, however will now not be capable of due to the necessary testing.
The 26-year-old plans to defend her gold medal on the 2028 Los Angeles Video games, however some boxers and their federations have already criticised her inclusion.
