World Boxing has unveiled new regulations requiring chromosomal verification for athletes competing in female categories, with the measures taking effect immediately.
The international governing body confirmed on Wednesday that competitors must undergo polymerase chain reaction testing or equivalent genetic screening to establish their biological sex.
The policy will be enforced at the organisation's inaugural championships in Liverpool from 4-14 September.
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Imane Khelif was permitted to take part in the Paris Olympics despite controversy surrounding her involvement | GETTYNational federations bear responsibility for conducting the tests and submitting documentation confirming their athletes' chromosomal sex.
Athletes who fail to provide the required certification will be barred from competition, with potential sanctions extending to both individual competitors and their national teams.
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The announcement follows intense debate surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, who secured gold medals at last year's Paris Olympics despite having been disqualified from the 2023 world championships by the International Boxing Association after allegedly failing gender tests.
Both athletes competed under International Olympic Committee rules, which permitted their participation based on their identification as women. Khelif, 26, has maintained she was born female and has competed in women's amateur boxing for almost ten years.
The controversy prompted widespread discussion about eligibility criteria in women's sport, particularly in combat disciplines where safety concerns are paramount.
The tests will detect Y chromosome genetic material to determine biological sex. World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst stated: "World Boxing respects the dignity of all individuals and is keen to ensure it is as inclusive as possible, yet in a combat sport like boxing, we have a duty of care to deliver safety and competitiveness fairness."
Athletes must complete this screening once in their careers. Those with differences in sex development involving male androgenisation will only be permitted to compete in men's categories.
The governing body has established comprehensive evaluation procedures for athletes with Y chromosome material seeking to compete in women's divisions, encompassing genetic analysis, hormone assessments, anatomical examinations and specialist endocrine evaluations.
An appeals mechanism has been established for athletes challenging their categorisation. World Boxing emerged two years ago following a split from the scandal-plagued International Boxing Association and received provisional IOC recognition in February.
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Lin Yu-ting has claimed the IBA's gender test was 'false' amid the controversy that surrounded the boxer's involvement at the Paris Olympics | REUTERSThe organisation will oversee Olympic qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. President Donald Trump indicated at an August press conference that "strong form of testing" would be implemented for those Olympics.
Khelif withdrew from June's Eindhoven Box Cup after World Boxing communicated testing requirements to the Algerian Boxing Federation in May. Van der Vorst subsequently apologised for specifically naming the athlete whilst discussing the policy.
World Athletics introduced similar chromosome testing earlier this year, establishing a 1 September deadline for athletes ahead of their world championships.
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