French Women’s Boxing Team Barred Over Late Gender Test Results

The French women’s boxing team can’t compete in the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool. They missed the deadline for mandatory genetic sex testing results.

This decision has stirred up a lot of debate in the boxing world. The French Boxing Federation (FFBoxe) says they’re outraged, blaming the recommended lab for dropping the ball.

World Boxing, which runs the sport globally, insists national federations have to handle testing on time. The whole situation just adds fuel to the ongoing arguments about gender testing in sports.

Background of the Controversy

Back in May, World Boxing rolled out mandatory genetic sex testing for all athletes. They said this was partly because of earlier controversies over gender eligibility.

The French team, including European Under-22 Champion Romane Moulai and 2021 Youth World Boxing Championships silver medalist Sthelyne Grosy, went to a World Boxing-accredited lab in Leeds for tests. But the results got delayed, so the team was blocked from competing.

The Role of World Boxing

World Boxing came onto the scene in 2023 after the International Boxing Association (IBA) got suspended and kicked out by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Now, World Boxing oversees the sport for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

They keep saying it’s up to national federations to get their athletes tested on time. Since announcing the new rules, they’ve made it clear: federations must handle the logistics.

Implications for the French Team

Getting excluded from the World Boxing Championships hits the French women’s team hard. They lose out on immediate competition and it messes with their prep for future events, including the 2028 Olympics.

The French Boxing Federation is frustrated. They say that even though World Boxing gave assurances, the recommended lab didn’t deliver results on time. The athletes and their supporters feel wronged by the whole thing.

Broader Impact on Gender Testing in Sports

This isn’t just about one team. The introduction of genetic sex testing by World Boxing follows heated moments at the 2024 Olympics. Athletes like Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting were disqualified, despite being assigned female at birth and identifying as women.

Cases like these bring up tough questions about fairness and ethics in gender testing. Some people say it leads to discrimination and keeps deserving athletes out.

Reactions from the Boxing Community

The move to bar the French team got strong reactions. Many in the boxing community feel for the athletes, who are stuck in the middle of all this red tape.

There’s also a louder call for reviewing gender testing policies. Folks want to make sure the rules don’t unfairly hurt certain athletes or teams.

Future of Gender Testing in Boxing

This whole controversy with the French team shows just how messy and confusing gender testing in boxing can be. As the sport heads toward the 2028 Olympics, governing bodies like World Boxing need to work more closely with national federations.

Maybe it’s time to rethink the current policies and fix whatever’s not working. Athletes deserve a fair shot—shouldn’t that be the point?

Conclusion

The French women’s boxing team got barred from the World Boxing Championships, which really highlights the messiness and controversy around gender testing in sports.

World Boxing says national federations should handle things, but the French Boxing Federation fired back, blaming the recommended lab for missing deadlines.

Honestly, this situation shows how badly we need a simpler, fairer way to do gender testing so athletes actually get a shot to compete.

If you want to dig deeper, check out the full article on the New York Times.