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World Boxing is leaving no doubt about its process to “protect the women’s category” ahead of September’s inaugural World Championships in Liverpool (GBR). The federation announced Wednesday:
“World Boxing has introduced mandatory sex testing, to determine the eligibility of male and female athletes that want to participate in its competitions as part of a new eligibility policy published HERE today.
“The policy is designed to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women and means that all athletes over the age of 18 that want to participate in a World Boxing owned or sanctioned competition will need to undergo a once-in-a-lifetime PCR (polymerase chain reaction) of functional medical equivalent genetic screening test to determine their sex at birth and their eligibility to compete.
“The new policy comes into effect from 20 August 2025 and will be applied in the female category at the forthcoming World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, 4-14 September 2025.
”It means that all athletes who wish to take part in the 10 female weight categories at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool will need to undergo a PCR or functional medical equivalent genetic screening test to certify their eligibility to box.”
The testing itself must be done by national federations who must provide a certification of testing and results when entering fighters into the World Championships. World Boxing explained further:
“Under the policy, World Boxing will operate two categories as determined by sex: a men’s category and a women’s category. To be eligible for the men’s category, a competitor must be male at birth. To be eligible for the women’s category, a competitor must be female at birth.
“Participation in either category will be determined by a PCR or functional medical equivalent genetic screening test to determine sex at birth. The PCR test is a laboratory technique used to detect specific genetic material, in this case the SRY gene, which reveals the presence of the Y chromosome, that is an indicator of biological sex. The test can be conducted by nasal/mouth swab, saliva or blood.
“Athletes deemed to be male at birth, as evidenced by the presence of Y chromosome genetic material (the SRY gene) or with a difference of sexual development (DSD) where male androgenization occurs, will be eligible to compete in the male category.
“Athletes deemed to be female at birth, as evidenced by the presence of XX chromosomes or the absence of Y chromosome genetic material (the SRY gene) or with a DSD where male androgenization does not occur, will be eligible to compete in the female category.”
There is an appeals process to challenge results and to examine unique circumstances such as differences in sex development. Testing for all boxers – men included – will be implemented on 1 January 2026.
Observed: World Athletics is also requiring such screening for the women’s division and the International Olympic Committee has said it will try to form a consensus approach to women’s participation issues. The experience of athletics and boxing will significantly inform the IOC’s own approach, especially if the program advances reasonably well in both sports.
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Meanwhile, a report on the French Nice Matin site says that Algerian women’s champion Imane Khelif has stopped boxing. According to her manager, Nasser Yesfah:
“She hasn’t started again, she doesn’t box anymore. In any case, she will be subjected to the same type of tests if she turns pro. She does sessions in Algeria or goes to Qatar, to the national performance center, to continue training, but nothing more. And then she travels mainly for sponsorship deals.”
Khelif, 26, won the Paris women’s Olympic 66 kg title, but was accused of failing a sex-screening test in 2023; she has filed multiple lawsuits, but has not boxed since the Games.
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