Olympic gold medalist banned until sex-tested: The wild fight over Imane Khelif’s right to box as a woman

Synopsis
World Boxing, the new Olympic boxing governing body, has implemented mandatory sex testing, impacting Algerian gold medalist Imane Khelif. Khelif, previously cleared by the IOC after a controversial disqualification by the IBA, now faces testing to compete. The policy requires PCR genetic testing, raising concerns about athlete rights and fairness.
Who is Imane Khelif
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), however, questioned the IBA's testing credibility and allowed Khelif to compete, citing her Algerian passport listing her as female.
"I am a woman like any other woman," Khelif declared after her Olympic victory. "I was born a woman, I have lived as a woman, I compete as a woman. There is no doubt about that."
The organization has informed the Algerian Boxing Federation that Khelif will not be allowed to participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup or any World Boxing event until she undergoes sex testing.
What is the new sex testing policy?
The new policy mandates that athletes over 18 must undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic testing to determine sex at birth. National federations are responsible for conducting these tests, and failure to comply could lead to sanctions against both the country and the athlete. World Boxing reserves the right to conduct its testing to confirm certification.
French publication Le Correspondant claimed that Khelif was born with 5-Alpha reductase type 2 deficiency in 2023, a rare intersex condition characterized by the presence of XY chromosomes and internal testes.
However, the IOC had previously stopped mandatory chromosome testing before the 2000 Olympics, citing concerns over the accuracy and ethical implications of such tests.
While some argue that sex testing ensures a level playing field, others contend that it infringes on athletes' rights and dignity.
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