Overview

• France’s federation said lab results required by World Boxing did not arrive in time as the Liverpool World Championships opened, resulting in the women’s team being ruled ineligible.
• The five excluded athletes are Romane Moulai, Wassila Lkhadiri, Mélissa Bounoua, Sthélyne Grosy and Maëlys Richol.
• World Boxing now requires a PCR or equivalent genetic sex‑verification test for participation, a rule introduced for 2025 competitions to, in its words, ensure safety and equal conditions.
• The French federation argues such tests are prohibited under domestic privacy law, forcing athletes to be tested abroad and contributing to the missed deadline.
• Other prominent fighters, including Algeria’s Imane Khelif—whose request for interim relief at the Court of Arbitration for Sport was rejected—and Lin Yu‑ting, have also been barred under the policy.