Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer and Olympic gold medalist, can't compete in the Eindhoven Box Cup. World Boxing, the new international body that oversees Olympic boxing, has a new rule. It says all boxers over 18 must take a genetic test to prove their sex.
The director of communications for the Eindhoven Box Cup, Dirk Renders, said:
"The decision to exclude Imane is not ours. We regret it."
World Boxing wants all boxers to take a PCR test. This test checks a person's DNA to figure out their sex at birth. It decides if they can compete in tournaments run by World Boxing.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Mayor of Eindhoven, didn't like this decision. He wrote a letter to the Dutch and International Boxing Federations. In it, he said:
"As far as we are concerned, all athletes are welcome in Eindhoven. Excluding them based on controversial 'gender testing' certainly does not fit with that. We express our disapproval of this decision and ask the organization to admit Imane Khelif after all."
Boris van der Vorst, the President of World Boxing, wrote an apology to the Algerian Boxing Federation. He told them:
"I am writing personally to offer a formal and sincere apology for this and to acknowledge that your privacy should have been protected."
The Eindhoven Box Cup was supposed to be Khelif's return to boxing after her Olympic success. But now, she'll have to wait for another chance to compete.
This new rule affects all tournaments that World Boxing runs. It's causing a stir in the boxing world, with people debating if it's fair or necessary.
