Pinay boxer Ofelia Magno. Photo from Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP)
MANILA — Pinay boxer Ofelia Magno was pulled out from the World Boxing Championships 2025 after her genetic sex test results did not come out on time.
In a message with ABS-CBN News, Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) Secretary General Marcus Manalo confirmed that Magno was pulled out of the tournament "along with many others" after the delayed result.
Sex testing is now mandated by World Boxing to athletes eyeing to compete in their competitions.
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The policy came after sex-related controversies in boxing during the Paris Olympics, when Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting were at the center of a gender row.
READ: World Boxing introduces mandatory sex tests for all fighters
"We have 1 boxer (Ofelia Magno) who was was pulled out in the draw along with many others because her genetic sex test results (to detect SRY gene) didn't come out before the draw," he said.
"We had to get her test done here in Liverpool upon arrival as arranged by the organizers because such test is not available in the Philippines," he added.
Manalo also confirmed that there will be no appeals regarding the matter, but they are seeking to appeal the decision to World Boxing.
"We will write a formal complaint to World Boxing regarding this. I'm also thinking of gathering all the 5 national federations affected because maybe we can come up with a unified stance on this."
Team Philippines is still with Carlo Paalam, Junmilardo Ogayre, Ronald Chavez, Riza Pasuit, Mark Ashley Fajardo, and Jay Bryan Baricuatro, representing the country in the World Boxing Championships.
--with reports from Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News