World Boxing president responds to Imane Khelif following ban over sex test controversy

The president of World Boxing has issued an apology after naming Imane Khelif in the governing body's announcement of mandatory sex testing.

During the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Khelif of Algeria won gold in the 66kg women's division.

Khelif's run to victory was marred by controversy over her eligibility after she was banned from competing at the World Championships in New Delhi, India, with the previous governing body, IBA, making the decision after claiming she failed unspecified gender tests.

However, the 26-year-old was cleared to compete in Paris after the IBA was removed as the governing body of amateur boxing and replaced by the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU), who stated competitors were eligible for the women's division in the Olympics if their passports said they were female.

Imane Khelif won gold during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Image: Getty

This week, it was stated that World Boxing will be the provisional organisation for the 2028 Olympics and announced that the 26-year-old is banned from competing in future women's events unless she provides proof that she is a female.

A statement read: "Imane Khelif may not compete in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup or in any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes genetic screening in accordance with World Boxing’s rules and testing procedures."

Now, as reported by the BBC, World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst has written to the Algerian Boxing Federation to apologise for naming Khelif, stating that "the athlete's privacy should have been protected".

Imane Khelif. Image: Getty

Khelif has also issued her first statement since the ban, as she took to Instagram on the 'Global Day of Parents' to say thank you to her parents.

She said: "Today, I became a champion, but it all started long ago! When my parents believed in me, even when the dream felt too big.

"When they supported me, listened to me, and stood by me. Being a parent isn’t easy. There’s no manual. But the love, patience, and trust you give your child can change everything. On this #GlobalDayOfParents, I just want to say thank you."