Imane Khelif is man: Leaked Lal PathLabs' report unveils the dark reality of the Olympic gold medalist

A leaked medical report has reignited fierce debate over gender eligibility in elite sport after revealing that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, the reigning Olympic champion, has male chromosomes.

The test, conducted by India-based Dr Lal PathLabs in March 2023, stated plainly: “Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype.” Khelif was initially barred from the Women’s World Boxing Championships that year based on these results. But in 2024, she returned to the ring at the Paris Olympics — and won gold.

Lab at centre of controversy

The chromosome test was commissioned by the International Boxing Association (IBA) and carried out at Dr Lal PathLabs, a widely respected diagnostic lab headquartered in New Delhi. It holds accreditation from the American College of Pathologists and certification from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), adding credibility to the test results.

Despite these credentials, Olympic officials dismissed the findings. IOC president Thomas Bach called them “part of a Russian-led misinformation campaign,” citing broader concerns around the IBA's governance. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams also said at a press briefing in Paris that such test results were “ad hoc” and “not legitimate.”

“I feared for my life”: Reactions from the ring

During the Paris Olympics, Khelif’s strength in the ring drew sharp attention. In her opening bout, she faced Italy’s Angela Carini, a seasoned boxer who left the ring in tears.

“I feared for my life during that fight,” Carini later said.

Her comments weren’t isolated. Mexican boxer Brianda Tamara Cruz, who faced Khelif in 2022, said: “I don’t think I had ever felt like that in my 13 years as a boxer, nor in my sparring with men.”

Khelif defeated Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting in the final with a performance many described as “physically one-sided” and “uncomfortable to watch.” Observers compared it to “watching a man beat a woman in the ring,” intensifying public outrage and calls for policy reform.

World Boxing Federation demands sex verification

In response to the backlash, World Boxing has announced that Khelif must now undergo mandatory chromosome testing before she can compete in any further female events. The 26-year-old has not yet submitted proof of female chromosomes.

World Boxing has since introduced a new rule requiring PCR-based genetic testing for all athletes over 18 competing in women’s divisions. This measure was directly prompted by the fallout from the Khelif case.

A lab with longstanding legacy

Dr Lal PathLabs, now at the centre of this global storm, is no newcomer to critical medical testing. Founded in 1949 by Dr Major S.K. Lal, the lab began with basic pathology services and a blood bank. Over decades, it expanded nationally and gained international recognition. By 2015, the company had launched a successful IPO and now operates 280 labs across India, including a National Reference Laboratory in Delhi and regional centres in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bangalore.

The human cost of policy gaps

Khelif, for her part, denies all claims that she is biologically male. “I was raised as a girl and have always identified as female,” she said.

Her identity, however, has become the focal point in a much larger and emotionally charged conversation: Who should be allowed to compete in women’s sport? And on what basis?

Latin American federations have since urged that women's boxing be limited to athletes assigned female at birth. They cite not only fairness but safety — a core concern for many in the sport.

The IOC’s decision to allow Khelif to compete, despite medical data suggesting otherwise, has drawn criticism for lacking transparency and consistency. While the committee insists there was “no valid reason” to disqualify her, others argue that the data should have at least triggered an independent review.

The episode lays bare a fundamental challenge: how to balance inclusion with fairness, safety, and trust in women’s sport. For many athletes, this isn’t theoretical. It’s personal.

Imane Khelif’s case has become a flashpoint in the ongoing global debate over gender eligibility in sport. It has raised uncomfortable questions that governing bodies can no longer ignore.