“Imane Khelif may not participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup, 5-10 June 2025 and any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes genetic sex screening in accordance with World Boxing’s rules and testing procedures,” a letter from World Boxing to the Algerian Boxing Federation states.

The decision to mandate testing came in part due to the controversy surrounding Khelif after she won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

Khelif came under intense scrutiny over misconceptions about gender, fueled by claims from the International Boxing Association, which has been permanently banned from the Olympics, that both Khelif and another boxer failed unspecified eligibility tests for the women’s competition at last year’s world championships.

Khelif boxed for years on the international stage without any gender issues or questions until the year before the Olympics, when she was disqualified from the IBA’s world championships.

World Boxing said athletes need to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic test to determine their sex at birth and their eligibility to compete, the organization said. The test, which can be conducted by nasal/mouth swab, saliva or blood, reveals the presence of the Y chromosome. The results will determine the biological sex.

Studies have shown the PCR test to determine sex is highly accurate. A 2023 study published in Genes found sex assessment achieved an accuracy of 72% on non-adults and 97% on adults.

“World Boxing respects the dignity of all individuals and its overriding priority is to ensure safety and competitive fairness to all athletes,” the organization said in the statement.

CBS News reached out to the Algerian Boxing Federation for comment.

Mandatory testing procedures will begin July 1, 2025. / info: cbsnews.com