World Boxing has made it mandatory for all athletes competing in the women’s division at its World Boxing Championships 2026 to undergo genetic sex testing. The policy will take effect ahead of the tournament scheduled for September 4-14, in Liverpool, England.
The governing body says the decision is aimed at ensuring fairness and safety in a high-contact sport.
World Boxing President Boris Van Der Vorst said: “We respect the dignity of all individuals and are keen to ensure inclusivity. But in a combat sport like boxing, we have a duty of care to deliver safety and competitive fairness.”
World Boxing Championships: About the policy
The regulation mandates all women competitors undergo a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test or equivalent genetic screening to detect the presence or absence of Y chromosome material. These results will be used to determine an athlete’s biological sex at birth, which World Boxing claims is the most objective standard for competition eligibility.
- National federations will be responsible for testing and submitting results in advance.
- Athletes found to have Y chromosome material will not be automatically disqualified, but they may face additional scrutiny.
- Those with DSD involving male androgenization will only be allowed to compete in the men’s category, unless they undergo further evaluations including hormonal profiling, anatomical assessments, endocrine reviews.
The organization described the policy as the result of consultations with medical, legal, and sporting experts, and part of a broader mission to ensure standardized eligibility rules across all federations under its governance.
This move follows a growing trend in international sports to regulate sex eligibility in women’s events more strictly. In July 2025, World Athletics announced a one-time chromosome testing requirement for all female competitors, to be completed by September 1.
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Controversy
World Boxing had earlier announced the policy after a huge controversy erupted during the Paris Olympics in 2024 after pugilists, believed to have been born as a male, competed in women’s division. Many called it unfair for the female participants who had to take punches from opponents with male-like physique.
Boxers like Imane Khelif of Algeria and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting-both champions at Olympics, drew the ire of fans as they were believed to be born male but competed in women’s division.
Khelif, who had been insisting he was born female, had to withdrew from a World Boxing event in the Netherlands earlier this year after the first announcement of the protocol. On the other hand, Lin Yu-ting has said she will undergo compulsory gender testing ahead of the world championships in Liverpool next month.
