LIVERPOOL \u2013 Boxing chiefs on Sept 5 pledged to redouble efforts to get their message across about newly introduced genetic sex tests, after a row overshadowed the start of the World Championships.<\/p>\n
Twelve boxers have reportedly been barred from competing in Liverpool, including the five-member women\u2019s team from France, after they missed the deadline for test results to be submitted.<\/p>\n
The BBC reported that another seven athletes, from the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Nigeria and the Philippines, were unable to compete.<\/p>\n
World Boxing blamed the national federations, saying they were given ample warning of the new policy, which was announced in May.<\/p>\n
But acting secretary-general Mike McAtee, speaking to AFP in Liverpool on Sept 5, the second day of the championships, struck a more conciliatory tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything medical takes time,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
However, the American also insisted World Boxing had communicated its new policy to officials at many levels, aware that many federations had staffing challenges.<\/p>\n
World Boxing was only granted provisional recognition as the international federation governing the sport within the Olympic movement in February.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to see how we can perform better, not only on eligibility, but everything else,\u201d added McAtee.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re an old sport in a very young body.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo how do we make ourselves better, and how can we support? We have members like GB Boxing, England, Scotland, Wales, that have funding and are able to do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then we have other national federations that just don\u2019t have the funding. So we need to be able to do better in support of our members.\u201d<\/p>\n
McAtee also said that in future World Boxing would consider going straight to athletes over the testing requirements.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe we should also start contacting the boxers and say, \u2018Hey, remind your coaches, your team managers, your administrators\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n
Under World Boxing\u2019s policy, fighters over 18 who want to participate in the women\u2019s category need to take a one-off PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or medical equivalent genetic test.<\/p>\n
It follows a gender row involving Algeria\u2019s Imane Khelif and Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting at last year\u2019s Paris Olympics. The two athletes had been excluded from the International Boxing Association\u2019s (IBA\u2019s) 2023 World Championships after that organisation said they had failed eligibility tests.<\/p>\n
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which stepped in to oversee boxing at the Paris Games, allowed them both to compete. Both went on to win gold medals.<\/p>\n
Neither Khelif nor Lin are boxing in Liverpool, where boxers were reluctant to address the issue.<\/p>\n
Taiwan\u2019s boxing association said Lin would not be competing despite reportedly submitting her test results.<\/p>\n
Khelif has turned to sport\u2019s top court, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, to challenge World Boxing\u2019s gender testing policy. AFP <\/p>\n
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