World Boxing is nearing the completion of its investigation into the gender eligibility controversy that overshadowed boxing at the 2024 Olympic Games, with the organization expecting to announce its findings in just a few weeks. Boris van der Vorst, the president of World Boxing, confirmed the investigation has reached an “advanced stage” and anticipates a resolution within two to three weeks. He emphasized that the recommendations will require his approval, as well as the endorsement of the World Boxing board.
The controversy centers around Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan, both gold medal winners at the Paris Olympics, whose eligibility sparked debate. Neither athlete has entered the World Boxing Cup, set to begin on March 31st in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. It’s unclear whether their national federations will submit their names for the upcoming World Cup event in Kazakhstan on June 30.
In an interview with ITV scheduled for broadcast on Wednesday evening, Khelif addressed the issue of false claims regarding her gender. Responding to Donald Trump’s erroneous statement suggesting she was a transgender athlete, Khelif firmly denied the accusation, stating: “I am not transgender. This does not concern me and it does not intimidate me.” Khelif reiterated her goal to capture a second gold medal, this time in Los Angeles at the 2028 Olympics.
The controversy surrounding gender eligibility underscores the urgency of resolving the matter, with van der Vorst acknowledging the complex nature of the issue. “It’s an extremely complex issue with significant welfare concerns,” he explained. To address this, World Boxing has set up a working group in conjunction with its medical committee to create a sex, age, and weight policy. This group is collaborating with experts from around the globe, including the Independent Council for Women’s Sports, to develop a revised eligibility policy. The primary aim is to ensure a level playing field that maintains fairness and prioritizes the safety of all athletes.
This week has been pivotal for World Boxing, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Thomas Bach, announcing that the IOC executive board has supported boxing’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This marks a significant milestone for World Boxing, an organization founded by van der Vorst in 2023 to ensure the sport’s place in the Olympic Games after the IOC suspended the International Boxing Association (IBA), boxing’s previous governing body.
The gender eligibility debate became one of the most contentious topics in the sport, particularly following incidents at the 2023 World Championships. Lin Yu-ting’s swab test revealed male chromosomes, which the IBA argued disqualified her from competing in the women’s category. Similarly, Imane Khelif faced similar results in her test. Both athletes were assigned female at birth and lived as girls before transitioning to compete in the women’s category.
Van der Vorst emphasized that there had been a great deal of misunderstanding surrounding the issue of transgender athletes in boxing, stating, “There are no transgender athletes in boxing. There might be some gender diversity, but that is something for experts to define in a policy.” He expressed his dismay over the lack of proper procedures and the mismanagement of the situation by the previous governing body, the IBA, adding that the handling of these cases felt “inappropriate.”
The World Boxing president also addressed the potential misuse of these gender-related cases for political purposes. “Sometimes these cases are used for political issues, and I want to stay away from it,” he remarked. “The main objective is to ensure a level playing field that guarantees safety for all participants. The priority is maintaining sporting integrity and protecting the well-being of all athletes.”
World Boxing’s decision to address this sensitive issue with the input of medical professionals and experts highlights the organization’s commitment to ensuring fairness in the sport, while balancing the concerns about athlete welfare. The outcome of the investigation will likely have a significant impact on the future of women’s boxing, especially with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon.
Key Points:
- World Boxing is set to announce findings on gender eligibility in the next two to three weeks.
- The investigation stems from the 2024 Olympic controversy surrounding Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting.
- Khelif responds to false claims of being a transgender athlete, stating her focus is on winning a second Olympic gold.
- Boris van der Vorst stresses the importance of sporting integrity and safety in the gender eligibility debate.
- A working group, in collaboration with medical experts, is developing a policy to determine eligibility based on sex, age, and weight.
- The IOC has approved boxing’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after World Boxing took over the sport’s governance.
