World Boxing president apologises to Imane Khelif for naming her in sex test policy

The head of World Boxing has apologised after the organisation singled out Imane Khelif in an announcement about making sex testing mandatory.

The Algerian boxer was mentioned by name when the boxing body released its new policy on Friday. Khelif won gold at the Paris Games last summer amid scrutiny over a failed gender eligibility test, which was conducted by a different controversial boxing body, the International Boxing Association (IBA).

World Boxing is the new international federation that will run boxing at the next Olympic Games. World Boxing's president, Boris van der Vorst, contacted the Algerian Boxing Federation to apologise.

"I am writing to you all personally to offer a formal and sincere apology for this and acknowledge that her privacy should have been protected," he wrote in a letter seen by The Associated Press. Van der Vorst added he hoped by "reaching out to you personally we show our true respect to you and your athletes".

World Boxing had said there will be mandatory testing of all boxers from 1 July in order to "ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women". All athletes over 18 years old in its competitions must undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic test to determine their sex at birth, it said.

The test detects chromosomal material through a mouth swab, saliva or blood. If an athlete intending to compete in the women's categories is determined to have male chromosomal material, "initial screenings will be referred to independent clinical specialists for genetic screening, hormonal profiles, anatomical examination or other valuation of endocrine profiles by medical specialists," World Boxing said.

An appeals process is also included in the policy. Khelif had intended to compete in the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands from 5 June, but will no longer be able to because of the mandatory testing.

The 26-year-old plans to defend her gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, but some boxers and their federations have already criticised her inclusion..