The boxing gender eligibility crisis deepens, one year after the Paris 2024 Olympics. Five French female boxers were barred from the World Championships in Liverpool for failing to submit mandatory genetic tests. The French Boxing Federation accuses World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst of 'betrayal.' The IOC is creating a task force on ‘Protecting the Women’s Category’ to examine female gender issues ahead of the LA28 Olympics. Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting, whose eligibility was debated prior to Paris 2024, are absent from the Liverpool championships.

Following the gender-testing controversy at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the IOC, under Kirsty Coventry, and World Boxing have prioritized gender verification policies. These policies, intended to ensure fairness and safety, face scientific, ethical, and legal challenges, as highlighted by cases involving Caster Semenya, Dutee Chand, Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting. The IOC's lack of clear guidelines on gender eligibility has led to compromised athlete dignity and fair play, with expectations now high for Coventry to update procedures and prevent misuse, also recognizing athletes like Rebecca Quinn.

Sport is increasingly influenced by international politics, with diplomacy, sanctions, and human rights playing significant roles. Hosting mega-events is now about political influence and visibility, despite financial risks. The IOC's barring of Russian and Belarusian teams from Paris 2024 highlights the intersection of legal authority and political pressure. Human rights and inclusion are now central, with the UN's principles embedded in bidding requirements and media rights becoming geopolitical assets.

Rob Koehler has criticized Sport Integrity Australia's silence regarding the 2021-2024 Chinese doping scandal, where 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but were cleared, impacting 25 Australian swimmers. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has faced criticism from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and others for its handling of the case, including accepting claims of food contamination by CHINADA. WADA defended its actions, citing an independent review that found no bias. USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart remains critical, questioning WADA's adherence to rules.

The IPC's Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal sanctioned Russian Para athlete Nikolay Polukhin for an anti-doping violation at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. Polukhin is stripped of his gold and two silver medals after an investigation revealed evidence of urine sample tampering as part of Russia's state-sponsored doping program. Forensic analysis of his sample bottles showed tampering, and DNA testing confirmed urine substitution. Polukhin's appeal to CAS was withdrawn due to non-payment. FIS and IBU will determine further consequences. The IPC has also suspended para swimmer Aleksey Lyzhikhin, and RUSADA has charged multiple para athletes.