A firestorm is brewing in international sports as newly surfaced lab results reportedly confirm that Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif is biologically male — a revelation that could upend his gold medal victory at the Paris Games and bar him from future women’s competitions.
The controversy reignited this week after World Boxing issued a formal letter to the Algerian Boxing Federation stating that Khelif is now banned from competing in female categories unless he undergoes genetic sex screening.
The letter, made public just days ago, specifically blocks Khelif from participating in the Eindhoven Box Cup this June and any other sanctioned events under World Boxing jurisdiction until the tests are completed in line with new eligibility protocols.
The governing body has also implemented sweeping changes to its competition rules, including mandatory PCR-based sex testing for athletes over 18.
According to World Boxing, the test uses genetic markers like the SRY gene — found only on the Y chromosome — to determine biological sex.
The policy was fast-tracked in May by the organization’s Executive Board under emergency provisions aimed at preserving safety and fairness in combat sports.
While Khelif had already faced scrutiny in 2023 after reportedly failing gender eligibility checks conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA), the full details of his biological test results were never disclosed — until now.
A document from Dr. Lal PathLabs, an accredited laboratory in New Delhi, has emerged showing a “male karyotype,” confirming the presence of Y chromosomes.
The findings were first revealed by journalist Alan Abrahamson and later cited by Telegraph Sport and 3 Wire Sports.
The document is dated March 17, 2023, more than a year before Khelif won Olympic gold in Paris, raising significant questions about why the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed him to compete in the women’s division despite prior knowledge of the test.
IOC President Thomas Bach had reportedly cast doubt on the original test’s credibility, though no official explanation has yet been offered by the organization.
The backlash has been swift and fierce.
Conservative commentator Piers Morgan blasted critics on social media site X, saying, “The biology-denying woke brigade abused and shamed me for saying it was outrageous and dangerous for Khelif to be beating up women at the Olympics. I’m ready for their apology, but won’t hold my breath.”
Former Olympian and women’s rights advocate Sharron Davies didn’t mince words either, writing, “When did we stop believing in our eyes & gut! Oh yeah when we decided women’s sport didn’t matter…”
Riley Gaines, a prominent activist and former swimmer, echoed the outrage.
“To all the people that insisted Imane Khelif was a woman because his passport said so… You were wrong. We were right. Sincerely, People with functioning eyes and a shred of honesty.”
Khelif, for his part, had publicly committed to defending his gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics — a prospect now in serious doubt, the Daily Mail reports.
Under the new World Boxing rules, failure to comply with genetic testing will render athletes ineligible for any female competitions moving forward.
Although Khelif’s team has not issued a response, the governing body insists its new “Sex, Age and Weight” policy is vital for the integrity of the sport.
“These new eligibility rules were developed with the express purpose of safeguarding athletes in combat sports, particularly given the physical risks associated with Olympic-style boxing,” World Boxing wrote.
