Boris Van Der Vorst, president of the World Boxing Federation, confirmed that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif will not participate in the World Championship starting tomorrow Thursday in Liverpool, following the federation’s decision to require all athletes to undergo gender verification tests as a condition for participation.

Khelif (25 years old) sparked controversy at the last World Championship in Paris after winning the gold medal alongside Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu Ting, amid doubts and objections regarding their gender identity, which led the World Federation to impose mandatory tests starting May.

Van Der Vorst said: “Imane has the right to appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). We emphasize that these tests were imposed to ensure fair and safe competitions, and everyone is required to submit the same documents, including the gender verification test.”

He pointed out that Khelif’s exclusion from the current World Championship is not due to failing the test, but because she did not submit an application to participate representing the Algerian federation.

Khelif has indeed appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge the World Federation’s decision, but her case has not yet been resolved.

The Algerian Boxing Federation has not yet issued any official comment on the decision.

Imane Khelif is the world champion in the 66-kilogram weight category and the first Algerian female boxer to reach the Olympic final (Tokyo 2020).

The controversy over her gender identity erupted last year after some opponents withdrew from facing her.

The World Boxing Federation (WBL) has become the supervising body for the sport at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, replacing the International Boxing Association (IBA).