World Boxing forces gender test on Olympic champion Imane Khelif

Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif will be excluded from upcoming international competitions unless she undergoes a genetic sex test, according to a new policy announced by World Boxing on Friday.

The sport’s global governing body has introduced mandatory sex testing for all athletes aged 18 and older who wish to compete in World Boxing–sanctioned events. The new regulation requires a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to determine an athlete’s chromosomal sex at birth, with a focus on detecting the SRY gene, a marker for the Y chromosome.

The policy was made public alongside a specific reference to Khelif, who won gold in the women’s welterweight category at the Paris Olympics last year. Her performance sparked a wave of speculation and scrutiny over her eligibility, which has now culminated in formal action from World Boxing.

“Imane Khelif may not participate in the female category at … any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes genetic sex screening in accordance with World Boxing’s rules and testing procedures,” the organization said in a statement. It also confirmed that the Algerian Boxing Federation had been officially notified of her ineligibility for the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup unless the testing is completed.

The 26-year-old, who is aiming for another gold medal at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, has not publicly responded to the latest decision. However, in a statement earlier this year, she defended her identity: “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.”

“I have competed in many tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics and other major competitions, as well as four World Championships,” she added. “All of these took place before I started winning and earning titles. But once I began achieving success, the campaigns against me started.”

World Boxing, which has been provisionally recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is set to oversee boxing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, has tasked national federations with implementing the new testing regime. Federations must certify the sex of each athlete entering competition by providing results from the PCR-based test.

The situation has reignited global debate over gender eligibility in sports, with Khelif’s case drawing significant attention. Her Olympic success, alongside that of Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, became a focal point of discussion during the Paris Games. Prominent political and public figures, including US President Donald Trump and businessman Elon Musk, publicly commented on the issue.

In February, Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. Khelif, however, has insisted she is not transgender and said she would not be intimidated by such actions.