Eighteen-year-old George Francis was excluded from the Under-19 World Championships in Budva, Montenegro, after England Boxing failed to arrange his required male sex verification test. The fighter learned of the issue just hours before the 60kg draw because officials neglected to process his blood sample and could not secure qualified local doctors. World Boxing rules mandated genetic sex testing for male fighters starting in January, placing testing responsibility entirely on national governing bodies. Consequently, Francis plans to abandon his Olympic ambitions to pursue a professional boxing career.
Key points
England Boxing admitted the missed tournament was caused by an internal administrative ov…: England Boxing admitted the missed tournament was caused by an internal administrative oversight regarding mandatory testing.
An inability to find qualified local doctors prevented any last-minute testing resolution…: An inability to find qualified local doctors prevented any last-minute testing resolution under World Boxing regulations.
The administrative failure prompted the teenage fighter to abandon his Olympic qualificat…: The administrative failure prompted the teenage fighter to abandon his Olympic qualification hopes and turn professional.
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- Published
A teenage English boxer says he was left "broken" after he was banned from competing at the Under-19 World Championships because his team forgot to organise a sex verification test to prove he is male.
George Francis, 18, was due to fight in the 60kg category in Budva, Montenegro last month.
But he says that he was informed he was ineligible only hours before the draw because of an "administrative oversight" by governing body England Boxing.
"They got me in a room and told me that I couldn't box because they didn't know if I was a boy or a girl, basically," Francis told BBC Sport.
"The explanation was that they couldn't provide a blood sample for me in time. Everyone else was able to provide a blood sample, but they just forgot me.
"Somehow I wasn't on the system. Apparently, there were no qualified doctors in Budva to do it. It's crazy."
A multiple schoolboy and junior national champion, Francis said he had been training "non-stop" for the "dream" of representing England in his first World Championships.
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