Archive May 30, 2025

Imane Khelif, the Olympic champion, won’t be allowed to compete in the female division until she passes a sex test.

Khelif, 26, won the women’s welterweight title last year at the Paris Games despite a gender eligibility dispute.

Due to alleged failing to meet gender eligibility requirements, the International Boxing Association (IBA) and Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting were previously disqualified from the 2023 World Championships.

Khelif was given permission to compete in Paris by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which in June 2023 revoked the IBA’s status as the amateur world governing body due to concerns about how it was run.

If their passports indicated that they were female, competitors were admitted to the women’s division in Paris, according to the IOC.

World Boxing announced on Friday that “all athletes over the age of 18” who want to compete in sports that it owns or is sanctioned must pass a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) genetic test to determine their sex at birth and eligibility to compete.

Khelif was scheduled to compete in the Eindhoven Box Cup between June 5 and June 10th.

Khelif has always been a woman, and there is no evidence she ever identified as anything other than that.

Khelif may have differences in sexual development (DSD) like the runner Caster Semenya, according to reports that the IBA was taken down.

However, the BBC has not been able to confirm whether or not this is true.

In February 2025, the IOC granted World Boxing provisional recognition as the sport’s international governing body.

In order to ensure the safety of all participants and provide a competitive level playing field for both men and women, the introduction of mandatory testing will be included in a new policy on “sex, age, and weight” according to the World Boxing statement.

The World Boxing Medical and Anti-Doping Committee’s special working group has analyzed data and medical evidence from a wide range of sources, consulted extensively with other sports and experts from around the world, and developed the policy.

The statement continued that World Boxing “respects the dignity of all people” and that its top priority was “ensuring safety and competitive fairness to all athletes.”

It is crucial that strict categories, which are based on sex, are maintained and enforced in order for World Boxing to hold competitions only for athletes who are categorised as either male or female, according to the statement.

Imane Khelif and other boxers are among the athletes who are concerned about the safety and well-being of all participants, according to the decision.

World Boxing published a letter it sent to Khelif and the Algerian Boxing Federation in its statement.

Given the “physical risks associated with Olympic-style boxing,” World Boxing claimed in the letter that the new eligibility guidelines were created “with the express intention of safeguarding athletes in combat sports.”

The athlete is “inadmissible to compete until the dispute is resolved,” according to the letter, which states that in the event that the athlete’s federation or World Boxing contests their sex certification.

The Russian-led IBA conducted the gender eligibility tests on Khelif that resulted in her being excluded from the 2023 World Championships.

Khelif “did not fulfill the requirements to take part in women’s competition,” according to the IBA.

The IOC questioned the IBA’s tests’ validity and declared that they couldn’t be relied upon.

Khelif and Lin both won gold in Paris, and their story attracted international attention and criticism as a result.

Boxing has been a part of the Olympics since 1904, with the exception of 1912, but it has been a part of the IOC’s run event.

When the LA 2028 schedule was first announced in 2022, the sport was initially excluded from the schedule.

However, before voting for its inclusion, the IOC earlier this year approved World Boxing’s status as the sport’s global governing body.

The IBA filed a lawsuit against the IOC in February 2025, citing safety concerns and gender eligibility.

A person’s hormones, genes, and/or reproductive organs may have a mix of both male and female characteristics, according to a group of uncommon conditions known as DSD.

Some people who are affected prefer the phrase “intersex,” an umbrella term used to describe people who are born with biologically diverse sex characteristics that don’t fall under the categories of the typical male or female.

Other sports have guidelines for athletes who have DSD, which can increase their muscle mass and strength due to higher testosterone levels.

In its statement, World Boxing went into great detail about the testing.

The PCR test, which uses a specific genetic material, such as the SRY gene, to demonstrate the presence of the Y chromosome, a sign of biological sex, is described as a “laboratory technique” used to identify the presence of biological sex.

“The test can be performed using saliva, blood, or nasal/mouth swab.”

The presence of the SRY gene, a difference in sexual development (DSD), or a male androgenization-related difference of chromosomes will qualify as male athletes.

“Female athletes who are deemed to be female at birth, as demonstrated by the presence of XX chromosomes or the absence of Y chromosome genetic material (the SRY gene) or who have DSD and who have not experienced male androgenization, will be eligible to compete in the female category.”

National federations will be required to provide a certification of their chromosomal sex when entering them into world boxing competitions in accordance with the new policy, which requires national federations to conduct testing and be responsible for ensuring that their athletes are sex when competing in international wrestling competitions.

Failure to provide that, according to World Boxing, will make the athlete “ineligible to compete” and could result in sanctions against the athlete or their national federation.

The organization continued, “In the event that Y chromosome genetic material or potential DSD are revealed in boxers’ test results, independent clinical specialists will be referred to them for genetic screening, hormonal profiles, anatomical examination, or other endocrine profiles,” adding: “Medical specialists will evaluate the initial screenings by independent clinical specialists for genetic screening, hormonal profiles, anatomical examination, or other endocrine profiles.

World Boxing will have the right to conduct genetic sex testing on new or existing athlete samples to confirm certification in accordance with its new policy.

French Open 2025

Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros

Queues snake outside the courts wherever Joao Fonseca is playing – meaning only the forward planners and most patient are rewarded.

It will be the same when the 18-year-old Brazilian – who had never played a main-draw Grand Slam match until this year – meets Britain’s Jack Draper in the French Open third round on Saturday.

Most outside of the tennis bubble have never heard of Fonseca, but the world number 65 is creating a real stir inside it.

“I think everyone can see his potential in the way he plays the game,” Draper said.

Fonseca had already captured the locker room’s attention when he won the ATP Next Gen title – the end-of-season finals contested by players under the age of 21 – last year.

A bigger breakthrough came when he stunned eighth seed Andrey Rublev at January’s Australian Open on his Grand Slam debut.

And in Melbourne, 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic revealed he was already “a fan” of Fonseca.

“He’s got the goods, definitely,” Djokovic said.

Less than a month later, Fonseca landed the biggest title of his career at an ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires.

Fonseca’s biggest weapon is a ferocious forehand that leaves opponents beaten and spectators gasping with excitement.

While able to demonstrate his easy power from the baseline, he also shows signs of inexperience – continuing to hit aggressively instead of a more subtle approach.

“When I was young I always loved to hit winners, but sometimes the ball was going to the fence,” Fonseca told BBC Sport.

“All the time I just wanted to hit winners. Then I started improving and being more patient.

The hype is continuing to build around the youngster labelled Brazil’s newest sporting superstar.

Football icons Ronaldo and Neymar have sent congratulatory messages while primetime Brazilian chat shows are desperate to have Fonseca on the sofa – an offer so far resisted by his representatives.

A carnival atmosphere led by thousands of Brazilians has followed Fonseca this year from Melbourne to Miami – and in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro.

“People were constantly yelling and following him. We had to find ways to get him through the back door of the club,” Rio Open tournament director Lui Carvalho told BBC Sport.

“He could no longer do the normal route and mix with the crowd. We needed different logistics to protect him.

“We have never had so many requests from government officials and celebrities for tickets – that shows he is a kid who can change the future of the sport in Brazil.”

For some young players, the attention might be overawing. But Fonseca, who comes across shy and softly-spoken in interviews, is embracing it.

“I just love it. I love to represent Brazil and carry the flag,” he said.

“It is very adorable from them to keep following me. Wherever I go there are Brazilians supporting me.

Fonseca’s rise has already led to Brazilian dreams of finally producing another Grand Slam champion.

Only two players from the South American nation – Maria Bueno and Gustavo Kuerten – have won major singles titles.

Kuerten was the last Brazilian man to win a singles Grand Slam, claiming his third French Open title in 2001.

“We invest so much emotion in Fonseca because of what Gustavo did in the past – and now Joao is our hope,” Brazilian Luis Gustavo told BBC Sport at the Madrid Open.

Unlike some of Brazil’s sporting superstars, Fonseca’s story is not one of humble beginnings in the Rio favelas.

Fonseca grew up in a wealthy family and started playing tennis at the Rio de Janeiro Country Club – one of Brazil’s most exclusive private venues.

His father, Christiano, is a businessman who founded his own hedge fund company, while mother Roberta was a junior volleyball player who moved into sports event management.

“For me, tennis started as a hobby when I was 10 or 11,” Fonseca said.

“Things got more serious when I was 12 and I changed my coach and school.

“I started practising two times every day in the pandemic. Things changed very fast.”

Global sponsors began putting lucrative contracts on the table – including the On sportswear brand part-owned by Roger Federer – while leading agents offered their services.

But Fonseca’s parents have decided to guide him themselves with the help of manager Gustavo Abreu, a former colleague of Christiano.

“I have a very good base with my family and the team,” Fonseca added.

“They help me keep my feet on the ground and focus on my routine.

After crashing during the opening round of the Isle of Man TT qualifying session on Friday evening, Peter Hickman was taken to a hospital by Airmed helicopter.

The race organisers claimed that the Lincolnshire racer was “conscious and stable” when he came off at the Kerrowmoar section of the circuit.

The 38-year-old 14-time TT champion will have her condition checked out of Noble’s Hospital on the island, according to the organisers, who added that additional condition updates would be made in the coming days.

Following the incident, red flags were displayed to halt the qualifying session, and the scheduled schedule was ultimately postponed due to incoming rain.

Hickman and team-mate Davey Todd both own and manage the 8TEN Racing team for the 1000cc races, and he also leads the other solo races for the PHR Racing team.

Hickman finished third in the Supersport leaderboard and had set the third-fastest time of the week in the Superbike class and second-fastest time in the Superstock category in Friday afternoon’s qualifying.

With a speed of 136.358 mph, which he set in 2023, he currently holds the TT Mountain Course record.

New Chandigarh, the Indian Premier League

Mumbai Indians 228-5 (20 overs): Rohit 81 (50), Bairstow 47 (22)

Gujarat Titans 208-6 (20 overs): Sudharsan 80 (49)

Mumbai Indians won by 20 runs.

Mumbai Indians held on to defeat Gujarat Titans by 20 runs to maintain their high-scoring lead.

Mumbai, the five-time champion, piled up 228-5 with Rohit Sharma scoring 81 and Jonny Bairstow scoring 47 before putting an end to Gujarat’s run.

The Titans’ leading run-scorer, Sai Sudharsan, shared an 84-win stand with Washington Sundar, who also had a superb 80.

Before the game turned heads when Warwickshire seamer Richard Gleeson bowled Sudharsan in the 16th over, Washington was unbeaten by a Jasprit Bumrah yorker for 40.

Gleeson left the field cramped, leaving him with only three shots remaining after he had already conceded three in the final three. Like Bairstow, who had come in late for the play-offs, was forced to defend 24 from the final over.

Ashwani Kumar, the Titans’ left-armer, won the final 208-6.

Mumbai will face Punjab Kings on Saturday in the final game, which came in fourth place in the league phase and was the last to advance to the play-offs.

Yorkshire’s captain Bairstow signed for 5.25 crore Indian rupees (£458, 000) for the three matches, and he immediately struck four fours and three sixes.

After Bairstow was caught off spinner Sai Kishore at the backward point, he combined with India’s great Rohit for 84 in 44 balls.

After Jos Buttler returned to England for international duty, Gujarat was punished for dropping Suryakumar Yadav on 25 and Rohit on three and twelve.

In Mumbai’s final over of the innings, Suryakumar made 33, and Hardik Pandya added three crucial sixes to put an end to the score of 22 not out of eight balls.