Teenage English boxer misses World Championships due to missed sex test

George Francis says he was left broken after a mix-up by his governing body kept him out of the Under-19 World Championships. The 18-year-old was set to fight in the 60kg category in Budva, Montenegro last month. He learned he could not compete just hours before the draw due to an administrative oversight by England Boxing. ## What Happened Francis stated that officials told him they could not verify his sex because his team did not organise a blood sample in time. He noted that everyone else provided a sample, but he was left off the system and was told there were no qualified doctors in Budva to fix it. The multi-time national champion had trained non-stop for his first World Championships and called the news the worst moment of his life. ## Reaction England Boxing acknowledged the administrative oversight in a statement. They said they worked with organisers to find a solution, maintained communication with the family, and are committed to strengthening their processes. Francis countered that he has not received a direct phone call or message from the governing body since the incident. ## Context World Boxing recently introduced mandatory genetic sex testing rules for competitors to ensure safety and fair competition. Similar testing deadlines have caused issues for other fighters at international events, as national federations are responsible for processing the samples properly.