Boxer Imane Khelif has been excluded from the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands due to a new sex testing policy announced by World Boxing. The Algerian champion, who won gold at the Paris Games last summer, did not register for the tournament before applications closed on Thursday.
World Boxing stated that Khelif would need to undergo screening to be approved to fight at upcoming events, including the Eindhoven Box Cup. The governing body specifically mentioned Khelif in their announcement, saying she would need to meet the new standards.
Eindhoven mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem criticized World Boxing’s decision, stating that all athletes are welcome in the city and that excluding those based on “gender tests” does not fit with that policy. The Dutch Boxing Federation and International Boxing Federation have been called upon to admit Khelif after her exclusion.
Khelif won gold at the Paris Olympics last summer amidst international scrutiny over her eligibility, which led to a change in the governing body for Olympic boxing from the Russian-dominated International Boxing Association to the current World Boxing organization. The new policy has faced pressure from boxers and their federations, who have expressed opposition to sex-eligibility standards.
Khelif plans to defend her gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games but faces opposition from some boxers and federations who have spoken out against her inclusion. The Algerian boxer had previously competed in international events under different eligibility standards.
Source: https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/45458848/boxer-imane-khelif-skips-event-mandatory-sex-testing-rule