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Olympic gold medalist boxer Imane Khelif got involved in another gender controvers this weekend after World Boxing declared that the athlete would not be able to compete until a sex test was completed.
3 wire sports citing medical documents from chromosome tests given by the International Boxing Association (IBA) before the World Cup 2022 and 2023, reported that Khelif’s DNA showed “Markers with male karyotypes.”
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Gold Medalist IMane Khelif from Algeria poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women’s 66 kg last boxing category during the Paris Olympic Games on August 9, 2024. (MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images)
“Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype. No numeric or chromosomal anomalies detected at 450-550 banding resolution,” a screen shot of the 3 thread sports reading document. The test was at an accredited laboratory in New Delhi, called Dr. Lal Pathlabs, before the boxing championships.
Pakinomist Digital reached out to World Boxing, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Algerian Olympic Committee and Reps for Khelif for comment.
Khelif was disqualified from the 2023 championship before a gold medal over problems with gender eligibility. IBA President Umar Kremlev released a statement to Russia’s Tass Agency on why Khelif was disqualified.
“Based on DNA tests, we identified a number of athletes who tried to trick their colleagues into posing as women. According to the results of the tests, it was proven that they have XY chromosomes. Such athletes were excluded from competition,” Kremlev said.
The Algerian Olympic Committee said at the time that Khelif was disqualified for “medical reasons.” Algerian media reported that Khelif was disqualified for high testosterone levels, according to Reuters.
“There are some countries that did not want Algeria to win a gold medal,” Khelif told Algerian Ennahahar TV. “This is a conspiracy and a great conspiracy and we will not be silent about it.”
Khelif was thrown into the global limelight after qualifying for the Olympics where the gender controversy emerged. Khelif defeated Angela Carini in the preliminary match during the Paris Olympics, but the IOC defended Khelif.
The Algeria’s Imane Khelif responds before the match against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in the women’s 66 kg quarter -final boxing match during the Paris Olympic Games 2024 at North Paris Arena, in Villepinte on August 3, 2024. (MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images)
“Everyone competing in women’s category complies with the rules of competition,” said IOC spokesman Mark Adams. “They are women in their passport and it is stated that this is the case that they are female.”
Then IBA was doubled and said that Khelif-together with Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting-Blev disqualified from the World Cup due to “a result of their failure to fulfill the criteria to participate in women’s competition, as laid down in IBA regulations. This decision, which was made after a thorough review, was extremely important and necessary to increase the level of legal action, and without the integrity of that is integrated. ” “.”
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IBA added that Khelif reviewed two samples: one in 2022 and the other in 2023. IBA said Khelif appealed the decision on the court of arbitration of sports, but withdrew during the process, which meant that the “IBA decision legally binds.”
As the controversy grew, Khelif continued to win and was eventually awarded a gold medal.
Throughout the controversy, Khelif has maintained that their gender is female. Khelif even filed a lawsuit against offenders and critics on social media.
Before World Boxing made his decision, Khelif was planning to attend the Olympics in 2028 despite President Donald Trump’s “No men in women’s sports” executive order was signed.
Imane Khelif, right, from Algeria and Luca Anna Hamori from Hungary fighting each other. (Sina Schuldt/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
Khelif told ITV that the policies do not apply to the boxer.
“I want to give you a straightforward answer: The US President issued a decision related to transient policies in America. I’m not transgender. This doesn’t concern me and it doesn’t scare me. That’s my answer,” Khelif told the business.
“For me, I see myself as a girl, like any other girl. I was born a girl, raised as a girl and has lived all my life as one.”
World Boxing said last week that Khelif has to take a sex test before he is able to compete in sanctioned matches.
“Imane Khelif may not participate in the female category at Eindhoven Box Cup, 5-10 June 2025 and any World Boxing Event until IMane Khelif reviews genetic sex screening in accordance with World Boxing’s rules and test procedures,” A letter sent by World Boxing To the Algerian Boxing Association read.
The letter also stated that World Boxing decided to adopt mandatory sex tests this month.
“These new rules for eligibility were developed with the express purpose of protecting athletes in martial arts, especially considering the physical risks associated with boxing of Olympic style,” the letter reads.
IMane Khelif, Right and Angela Carini respond after their fight. (Reuters/Isabel Infantes)
World Boxing Added in a statement that the new policies are “only designed to ensure the health and security of all participants in world boxing competitions (including Imane Khelif) and is not considered in any way prior to convicting the outcome of any test that will be introduced as part of the new policy of ‘sex, age and weight.’
