Background of the Issue

Five female boxers from France will not participate in the upcoming world championships in Liverpool, England, starting Thursday. Their exclusion has stemmed from complications related to new mandatory sex testing protocols, which were implemented following controversy surrounding eligibility during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The New Testing Policy

World Boxing introduced a policy requiring female athletes to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, or an equivalent genetic screening, to verify their sex at birth. This rule was established after debates arose concerning the eligibility of athletes during the previous Olympic qualifying rounds.

Complications for the French Team

The French boxing federation expressed “astonishment and indignation” at the situation, noting that the boxers were unable to receive timely test results that would have allowed their participation. Notably, French law prohibits the implementation of such testing in sporting contexts, raising significant privacy concerns.

Accountability and Criticism

World Boxing has stated that it is the responsibility of national federations to ensure compliance with testing requirements. The governing body indicated that the French federation failed to meet the deadline for submitting the necessary results. In response to this issue, World Boxing commented, “It is very disappointing for the boxers that some national federations have not been able to complete this process in time.”

Notable athletes affected include Romane Moulai, Wassila Lkhadiri, Melissa Bounoua, Sthelyne Grosy, and Maelys Richol, with Richol sharing a call for resignation of officials responsible via her Instagram account. Former candidate for the French boxing federation leadership, Estelle Mossely, also voiced her concerns about the situation.

Wider Implications

Interestingly, Imane Khelif, an Algerian athlete who previously faced scrutiny, will also miss the championships after her request for an urgent ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding World Boxing’s testing policy was denied.