Controversial boxer Imane Khelif skipping competition following World Boxings new mandatory sex testing
Imane Khelif, the boxer at the center of the Olympic gender controversy, is skipping a boxing tournament in the Netherlands after World Boxing announced mandatory sex testing for all athletes.The Algerian boxer, who won gold at the Paris Games last summer amid scrutiny over her eligibility, did not register in time for the event before applications closed on Thursday.Khelif had intended to return to international competition at the tournament in Hotel Eindhoven before World Boxing announced its new sex testing policy last Friday.Eindhoven Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem criticized World Boxing’s decision.“As far as we are concerned, all athletes are welcome in Eindhoven.Excluding athletes based on controversial ‘gender tests’ certainly does not fit in with that,” Dijsselbloem wrote in a letter addressed to the Dutch Boxing Federation and International Boxing Federation.
“We are expressing our disapproval of this decision today and are calling on the organization to admit Imane Khelif after all.”3 Wire Sports, citing medical documents from chromosome tests given by the International Boxing Association (IBA) before the 2022 and 2023 world championships, reported that Khelif’s DNA showed “markers with male karyotypes.” The International Olympic Committee (IOC) derecognized the IBA amid concerns about the organization’s governance, financial reliance on Russian state energy firm Gazprom and integrity of the bouts.“Chromosome analysis reveals Male karyotype.No numerical or chromosomal anomalies detected at 450-550 banding resolution,” a screenshot of the document on 3 Wire Sports read.
The test was at an accredited lab in New Delhi, called Dr.Lal PathLabs, before the boxing championships, according to 3 Wire Sports.Fox News Digital reached out to World Boxing, the Algerian Olympic Committee and reps for Khelif for comment.The IOC issued a statement to Fox News Digital on Tuesday morning.“The IOC has always made it clear that eligibility criteria ...