Imane Khelif Withdraws from Tournament Amid New Sex Testing Policy
Imane Khelif, a prominent figure in the ongoing Olympic gender debate, has withdrawn from a boxing tournament in the Netherlands after World Boxing instituted mandatory sex testing for all competitors. The Algerian athlete, who clinched gold at the Paris Games last summer amidst scrutiny regarding her eligibility, missed the registration deadline before applications closed on Thursday.
Initially, Khelif aimed to make her return to international boxing at the event in Hotel Eindhoven. However, the announcement of the new sex testing policy last Friday altered her plans significantly.
In response to the policy, Eindhoven Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem expressed his disapproval. “All athletes are welcome in Eindhoven. Excluding athletes based on controversial ‘gender tests’ certainly does not fit in with that,” he stated in a letter directed to both the Dutch Boxing Federation and the International Boxing Federation. He urged the organization to reconsider and allow Khelif to compete.
Reports from 3 Wire Sports highlighted that medical documents from chromosome tests conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA) indicated Khelif’s DNA exhibited “markers with male karyotypes.” This revelation has intensified discussions surrounding her eligibility.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has distanced itself from the IBA, citing concerns over governance and financial ties to Russian state energy firm Gazprom. A document shared by 3 Wire Sports noted, “Chromosome analysis reveals Male karyotype. No numerical or chromosomal anomalies detected at 450-550 banding resolution,” with testing performed at Dr. Lal PathLabs in New Delhi prior to the boxing championships.
World Boxing, along with the Algerian Olympic Committee and representatives for Khelif, were contacted for comments regarding this situation. The IOC reiterated its stance on eligibility criteria, emphasizing that these are determined by the respective International Federation. They await further details on how sex testing will be implemented fairly and legally.
Khelif faced disqualification from the 2023 championships just before a gold medal bout due to gender eligibility issues. Her rise to fame began with her qualification for the Olympics, which brought the gender controversy into public view. Despite this, she continued to perform well, ultimately securing a gold medal.
The IBA maintained that Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-thing were disqualified for not meeting eligibility criteria for women’s competition as outlined in IBA regulations. This decision was described as crucial for maintaining fairness and integrity within the sport.
According to the IBA, Khelif underwent two tests—one in 2022 and another in 2023. Although she appealed the disqualification to the Court for Arbitration of Sport, she later withdrew her appeal, rendering the IBA's decision legally binding.
Throughout this controversy, Khelif has consistently asserted her identity as female. She even initiated legal action against critics on social media platforms.
Prior to World Boxing's announcement, Khelif had aspirations of competing in the 2028 Olympics, despite President Trump’s executive order regarding transgender policies in sports. She clarified her position in an interview with ITV: “The U.S. president issued a decision related to transgender policies in America. I am not transgender. This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me.”
“For me, I see myself as a girl, just like any other girl. I was born a girl, raised as a girl, and have lived my entire life as one,” Khelif concluded.
