World Boxing Organization Faces Charges Following Exclusion of Five Female Boxers from World Championships Held in Liverpool, France
In a shocking turn of events, five French female boxers have been excluded from the World Championships, scheduled to take place in Liverpool, due to the absence of a mandatory gender test.
The World Championships, the first organized by World Boxing, have been marred by controversy, with the gender tests being a new requirement for women wishing to compete. These tests, mandated by World Boxing in May 2025, are not accessible in France for "sport" reasons.
According to the French Boxing Federation, the results from the gender tests, taken on Monday, are the cause of the controversy. The tests can only be conducted in France for medical purposes, scientific research, or in the fight against doping. However, due to sport-related reasons, they are not being conducted for this event.
The laboratory in Leeds, England, where World Boxing directed the FF Boxing and other nations to send their samples, is a two-hour drive from Liverpool. Despite World Boxing's assurance of obtaining results within the given deadlines, the results were not available at the time of registration closure, leading to the exclusion of the five French female boxers.
The French Boxing Federation issued a statement on Thursday morning, expressing their shock and indignation at the situation. The excluded boxers include Romane Moulai (-48 kg), Wassila Lkhadiri (-51 kg), Melissa Bounoua (-54 kg), Sthélyne Grosy (-57 kg), and Maëlys Richol (-65 kg).
Other female boxers from foreign delegations were also excluded due to the unavailability of test results. The Ministry of Sports confirmed that examinations of a person's genetic constitutional characteristics can only be undertaken for medical purposes, scientific research, or in the fight against doping.
The controversies surrounding the implementation of these gender tests led to the creation of World Boxing, replacing the International Boxing Association (IBA). The World Championships are the first major event organized by the new body, and the exclusion of these five French boxers has cast a shadow over the event.
The International Sports Court rejected a lawsuit to allow participation without these genetic tests at the September 2025 World Championships. The court's decision has left the French team and the excluded boxers in a difficult position, with little time left before the Championships begin.
This unfortunate turn of events serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges that come with implementing new regulations, especially in a competitive sport like boxing. The hope is that these issues will be resolved swiftly, ensuring a fair and inclusive competition for all participating boxers.
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