The sports community faces a contentious debate as Imane Khelif, an Algerian Olympic boxer, has been disqualified from competing in the women's division after leaked documents revealed his male biological sex. The controversy erupted when World Boxing, the sport's governing body, sent a formal letter to the Algerian Boxing Federation, barring Khelif from female categories until he undergoes genetic sex screening.
This development comes after a document from Dr. Lal PathLabs, an accredited laboratory in New Delhi, was made public, displaying a "male karyotype" and the presence of Y chromosomes. The lab results, dated March 17, 2023, were disclosed by journalist Alan Abrahamson and have since been reported by Telegraph Sport and 3 Wire Sports.
The issue intensified this week when World Boxing enforced its new eligibility protocols, which include mandatory PCR-based sex testing for athletes over 18, utilizing genetic markers like the SRY gene to determine biological sex. This emergency policy, enacted by the organization's Executive Board in May, aims to ensure safety and fairness in combat sports.
Khelif, who had already faced scrutiny in 2023 after reportedly failing gender eligibility checks by the International Boxing Association (IBA), managed to claim a gold medal at the Paris Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), led by President Thomas Bach, has yet to provide an official explanation for allowing Khelif to compete in the women's division, despite prior knowledge of the test.
The backlash from this revelation was immediate and widespread. Conservative commentator Piers Morgan took to social media platform X to express his vindication, as did former Olympian and women's rights advocate Sharron Davies and activist Riley Gaines. They criticized the disregard for biological sex in women's sports and demanded accountability from those who defended Khelif's participation.
Khelif, who had aspired to defend his gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, now faces an uncertain future in the sport. His team has not responded to the ban, but World Boxing has emphasized that its new "Sex, Age and Weight" policy is crucial for the sport's integrity.
The broader implications of this case touch upon the evolving conversation around gender identity and scientific criteria in elite sports. The dispute highlights the tension between the recognition of biological sex and the inclusive policies of gender self-identification, especially in physically demanding disciplines like boxing.
