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Boxer Imane Khelif admitted to having the SRY gene, located on the Y chromosome found in biological males, and undergoing hormone treatments to lower testosterone levels ahead of the 2024 Olympics, in an interview with French sports publication L’Equipe.
Khelif has denied being transgender.
“We all have different genetics, different hormone levels. I’m not transgender. My difference is natural. It’s who I am. I haven’t done anything to change the way nature made me. That’s why I’m not afraid,” Khelif said. “I have been taking hormone treatments to lower my testosterone levels for competitions.”
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Imane Khelif (r) of Algeria and Luca Anna Hamori of Hungary fight each other. (Sina Schuldt/image alliance via Getty Images)
Khelif committed to also take a genetic gender test to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which will likely be required.
“For the next games, if I have to take a test, I will. I have no problem with that,” Khelif said.
The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) has released a statement on Khelif’s admission.
“Algerian Olympic women’s gold medalist Imane Khelif has now confirmed he is a man. With men no longer eligible for Olympic women’s boxing under World Boxing rules, Khelif is reportedly planning to box professionally in Europe – although he inexplicably says he will still undergo sex screening for the LA 2028 Games in the hope of being considered a competitor.”
USOPC LEADERS REFER TO PROTECTION OF WOMEN’S SPORTS, USE OF SEX TEST AMID GLOBAL OPPOSITION TO TRANS ATHLETES
Algeria’s Imane Khelif, right, defeats Italy’s Angela Carini in their opening women’s 66 kg boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Khelif won a gold medal in women’s boxing at Olympics in Paris 2024 under close scrutiny from the International Boxing Association (IBA), which was disbanded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2023 due to concerns about the organisation’s leadership, financial dependence on Russian state energy company Gazprom and the integrity of the matches.
Khelif was previously disqualified from the IBA for failing a gender eligibility test. IBA president Umar Kremlev claimed at the time that unpublished DNA test results showed that Khelif had XY chromosomes.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended the results of the Paris Games, stating that Khelif and another boxer facing gender eligibility issues were victims of a “sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA.”
World Boxing, the sport’s international governing body, announced a new policy in August introducing mandatory gender testing to ensure only women compete in the women’s division. Khelif has appealed the new policy, which will keep the athlete out of any competition pending the results of genetic testing.
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Imane Khelif of Team Algeria looks on against Anna Luca Hamori of Team Hungary during the Women’s 66 kg quarterfinal round on day eight of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena on August 3, 2024 in Paris, France. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Khelif did not take part in an international boxing tournament in the Netherlands last summer after failing to register in time before applications closed.
President Donald Trump has previously said there will be a “strong form of testing” when asked about potential genetic testing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at an Aug. 5 news conference.
