World Boxing has issued an apology to Olympic champion Imane Khelif after publicly announcing she would be barred from competing unless she underwent sex testing.
The governing body's president, Boris van der Vorst, has written to the Algerian Boxing Federation acknowledging that "the athlete's privacy should have been protected".
The apology follows Friday's controversial announcement that revealed Khelif would be excluded from the Eindhoven Box Cup and all World Boxing events pending mandatory testing.
The organisation has now recognised its error in naming the Algerian fighter directly when unveiling its new policy for women's competitions.
Imane Khelif was permitted to take part in the Paris Olympics despite controversy surrounding her involvementGETTYThe announcement on Friday stated that mandatory sex testing would be introduced "to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women".
World Boxing specifically declared that Khelif would not be permitted to participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup, scheduled for 5-10 June, or any World Boxing event until she undergoes sex testing.
The governing body claimed its decision "reflects concerns over the safety and wellbeing of all boxers, including Imane Khelif".
It further stated the ban "aims to protect the mental and physical health of all participants in light of some of the reactions that have been expressed in relation to the boxer's potential participation at the Eindhoven Box Cup".
The controversy stems from Khelif's disqualification from the 2023 World Championships, organised by the rival International Boxing Association.
A medical report from that test has recently been leaked, appearing to indicate the Olympic welterweight champion was biologically male.
Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting faced similar disqualification but, like Khelif, was permitted to compete at Paris 2024 by the International Olympic Committee.
Both athletes won gold medals, sparking considerable debate.
The IOC made clear last year that this is "not a transgender case".
The organisation stated on Tuesday that "eligibility criteria are the responsibility of the respective International Federation", whilst awaiting details of how sex testing will be implemented "in a safe, fair and legally enforceable way".
World Boxing's new policy mandates 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 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) genetic test to determine their sex at birth and their eligibility to compete".
Imane Khelif sparked a gender row at the Olympics
PAThe organisation received provisional recognition from the IOC in February 2025, with the Algerian Boxing Federation joining in September.
Amidst the ongoing controversy, Khelif posted on social media on Tuesday celebrating Unicef's Global Day of Parents.
"Today, I became a champion, but it all started long ago," she wrote, thanking parents who "believed in me, even when the dream felt too big".
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