Algerian Olympic gold medalist boxer Imane Khelif is once again at the heart of a significant gender controversy following the leak of a medical report and a subsequent decision by World Boxing regarding gender eligibility. The situation has led to World Boxing issuing a formal apology to the Algerian Boxing Federation for publicly naming Khelif in their announcement of new testing protocols.
2023 Disqualification and Leaked Report
The controversy surrounding Imane Khelif’s gender eligibility first gained widespread attention in March 2023, when she was disqualified from the Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi by the International Boxing Association (IBA). While the exact reasons for the disqualification were initially unspecified, recent leaks of a medical report from Dr. Lal PathLabs, allegedly from the 2023 testing, have indicated that Khelif possesses XY (male) chromosomes. The report states “Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype.”
Despite this 2023 disqualification by the IBA, Khelif was cleared by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The IOC’s stance was that competitors were eligible for the women’s division if their passports identified them as female, and they dismissed the IBA’s tests as “ad hoc” and “not legitimate.” Khelif went on to win a gold medal at the Paris Games, a victory that, for some, was overshadowed by ongoing speculation and concerns about fairness in women’s sports.
World Boxing’s New Policy and Khelif’s Naming
In response to the continued debate and to establish clearer guidelines for gender eligibility, World Boxing, the newly recognized international federation overseeing boxing for future Olympics, announced a new policy on mandatory sex testing. This policy, set to begin on July 1, 2025, requires all athletes over 18 to undergo a PCR genetic test to determine their sex at birth, specifically looking for the presence of the SRY gene (indicating a Y chromosome).
Crucially, World Boxing’s initial announcement explicitly named Imane Khelif, stating that she would not be allowed to participate in the female category of any World Boxing event, including the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup, until she undergoes this genetic sex screening. This direct naming of Khelif in a public statement regarding a sensitive medical issue sparked immediate criticism regarding athlete privacy.
Formal Apology to the Algerian Boxing Federation
Following the backlash for singling out Khelif, World Boxing has issued a formal apology to the Algerian Boxing Federation. World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst personally wrote to the Algerian federation, acknowledging the mistake and stating that Khelif’s privacy should have been protected. The apology emphasized that greater effort should have been made to avoid linking the new policy to any individual.
This apology aims to address the concerns raised about ethical conduct and respect for athlete dignity in the implementation of gender eligibility policies.
Khelif’s Stance and Future Implications
Imane Khelif has consistently maintained that she was born and raised as a girl and has always identified as female. She has taken legal action in the past against what she perceives as cyberbullying and defamation related to the gender controversy. Despite the ongoing scrutiny, Khelif has expressed her determination to continue her boxing career, including aiming for another Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
