Khelif, who planned to make her competitive return at the tournament, must undergo genetic testing before she is allowed to fight.
Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif has been barred from competing in next week’s Eindhoven Box Cup following new eligibility rules introduced by World Boxing.
The governing body, newly recognized by the IOC, announced Friday it would implement mandatory sex testing for all athletes competing in sanctioned events.
Khelif, who planned to make her competitive return at the tournament, must undergo genetic testing before she is allowed to fight.
“World Boxing will introduce mandatory sex testing, to determine the eligibility of male and female athletes that want to take part in its competitions,” a statement read. The policy aims to ensure safety and fairness, especially after “reactions” surrounding Khelif’s inclusion.
The Algerian boxer won gold in the women’s 66kg category at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, previous IBA testing reportedly found Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting carried XY chromosomes. Both were cleared to compete in Paris by the independent Boxing Unit.
Khelif must now pass an SRY gene test to return to competition.