Nova Bergman's MMA coach is calling for gender testing for athletes after concerns were raised about her final opponent's gender identity following the World Championship.
Swedish MMA fighter Nova Bergman won a silver medal at the 2025 World Championships, but her achievement has been overshadowed by controversy regarding her final opponent, Amp Kanjutha Phattaraboonsorn from Thailand. After the match, Bergman expressed discomfort with the opponent's perceived male attributes, leading to protests from her coach, Jörgen Hamberg, and the Swedish team. The incident has raised significant concerns about gender verification in combat sports, highlighting the ongoing debates around transgender athletes.
The international MMA federation initially investigated the accusations but decided to drop the case after the Thai federation confirmed that Amp Kanjutha was born female. The athlete herself has denied any allegations and stated her willingness to undergo necessary testing to affirm her gender identity. Meanwhile, the Swedish MMA federation filed a formal protest after the championship match but reports indicate that the federation plans to establish new policies regarding gender verification for future competitions.
This situation reflects broader societal discussions about gender identity and sports, especially in contact sports where physicality can influence competition outcomes. The upcoming policy changes by the Swedish MMA federation may lead to a framework addressing such cases more comprehensively, paired with ongoing dialogues within the international sports community about inclusivity versus fairness in competition.
