World Boxing has rejected the criticism, saying it “made it clear that testing will be the responsibility of national federations as they have the closest links and most access to their boxers and are best placed to manage the testing process”.<\/p>\n
It said all federations had been warned on 21 August that the processing of results for sex-testing can take 48 hours and that any tests completed later than 1 September “would jeopardise your athlete’s entry into the official draw and competition”.<\/p>\n
Teams were told to consider their arrival time if they required testing once in the UK.<\/p>\n
Nigerian officials said Oraekwe and two of her team-mates had testing in Leeds on Monday, immediately after landing in the UK, but did not receive their results until Thursday evening, by which time they had been barred.<\/p>\n
“They brought the tests late”, said Oraekwe. “All I want to say is for World Boxing to compensate us, because we have spent a lot.” World Boxing has been approached for comment.<\/p>\n
The sex tests are banned in France without a medical prescription, so the French boxing federation also sent its five-member women’s team to the lab in Leeds on Monday to take them.<\/p>\n
It said it learned on Wednesday “with stupefaction and indignation” that the fighters would not be able to compete because, “despite guarantees given to us by World Boxing, the laboratory which they recommended to us was not up to the task of delivering the results on time”.<\/p>\n
It said: “As a result, our athletes as well as those from other countries have been caught in this trap and excluded.”<\/p>\n
French fighter Maelys Richol told BBC Sport she was “really upset about the situation”.<\/p>\n
She said: “When I came here I didn’t think it would turn out like this. It’s been a year, almost, that we’ve been preparing for the World Championships. And learning that the day before, it’s not easy.”<\/p>\n
World Boxing said the tests have been introduced to ensure safety and fairness in the women’s competition.<\/p>\n
“We’re sympathetic because we know every boxer gives their heart and soul every night in the gym,” Mike McAtee, World Boxing’s acting secretary general, told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n
“But boxing is a sport that you have to follow the rules. One of the biggest things is to protect boxers from themselves, and make sure that we have health and safety.<\/p>\n
“We gave plenty of notice, but again we’re sympathetic to any boxer, coach, federation that prepared, and for whatever reason they weren’t able to participate.<\/p>\n
“This is 100% the right policy to make sure that we have athletes compete safely and competitively.<\/p>\n
“From our standpoint, we can always learn. We’ll look at this afterwards, how we can be a better organisation to make sure we’re able to support our members to be able to get testing if they’re not allowed in their country.”<\/p>\n
The governing body has declined to say if any fighters taking the tests have failed them.<\/p>\n