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The controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s gold medal victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics continues to evolve more than a year after the competition, as new developments emerge in an ongoing debate about gender eligibility in international sports.
Khelif, who won gold in the women’s 66 kg boxing event, faced a barrage of misinformation and transphobic accusations despite being a cisgender woman. “I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman, I lived a woman, I competed as a woman,” Khelif stated following her victory.
The controversy stems from Khelif’s 2023 disqualification from the International Boxing Association (IBA) championship due to what the organization claimed was a failed gender eligibility test. The IBA, led by Russian president Umar Kremlev, alleged that DNA testing showed Khelif had XY chromosomes and elevated testosterone levels.
However, critical context has been largely overlooked in much of the coverage. The IBA has been decertified as an international governing body for boxing and is not recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The organization’s claims about Khelif’s sex characteristics have never been independently verified, and Khelif herself has never stated she has any variations in sex traits or differences of sexual development (DSDs).
The IOC has consistently maintained that all athletes competing in women’s categories at the Paris Olympics met the established eligibility requirements. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams emphasized, “Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the competition eligibility rules.”
Khelif’s case is not isolated. Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting faced similar accusations after also being disqualified from the IBA championship last year. Both athletes had previously competed in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics without issue and met all criteria for the 2024 Paris Games.
The controversy took a new turn in October 2024 when French outlet Le Correspondant claimed to have obtained Khelif’s medical report from the 2023 IBA testing, containing unsubstantiated allegations about her anatomy and sex characteristics. Khelif responded by announcing a lawsuit against the publication, with both she and the IOC describing the reports as “unverified documents whose origin cannot be confirmed.”
The situation escalated in May 2025 when World Boxing announced mandatory sex screening for all competitors over 18 years of age, requiring genetic testing through nasal swabs, saliva, or blood samples. While World Boxing later apologized for including Khelif’s name in its announcement, the policy remained intact.
By August 2025, Khelif filed suit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) contesting these new requirements, requesting exemption from the testing. “I am still being subjected to campaigns, injustice, and new decisions from international federations,” Khelif stated, “but I currently have a case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and God willing, it will be for the best.”
Most recently, in November 2025, the IOC announced it is considering potential changes to its policy regarding transgender athletes and those with variations in sex traits.
Advocacy organizations have emphasized that women of color in athletics are disproportionately subjected to accusations about their gender, reflecting what they describe as racist perceptions of non-white bodies as insufficiently “feminine.” This pattern extends beyond Khelif to other athletes like Caster Semenya and Serena Williams, who have faced similar scrutiny.
“We stand for the right of all women to participate in athletics,” said Erika Lorshbough, Executive Director of interACT. “Imane Khelif and other women have suffered the same inhumane treatment that intersex and transgender women have endured, having their womanhood and right to participate in sport under question.”
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis added, “Imane Khelif’s win at the Paris 2024 Games should be a triumph for her and her home country, but it’s unfortunately been clouded by baseless transphobia, misinformation and hate.”
The ongoing situation highlights the complex intersection of sports policy, gender, human rights, and media responsibility in international athletics, with implications that extend far beyond a single Olympic competition.
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5 Comments
The gender testing controversy in sports is a sensitive and nuanced issue. It’s important to uphold principles of fairness and inclusion, while also ensuring a level playing field. I hope the IOC can provide clear, equitable guidelines that respect the rights of all athletes.
The details around Khelif’s case are murky, but the transphobic accusations against her are unacceptable. As a cisgender woman, she should be able to compete without these kinds of baseless challenges to her identity and eligibility. The IOC needs to provide clarity and protect athletes’ rights.
This story highlights the need for rigorous, unbiased policies around gender eligibility in sports. The IBA’s actions seem questionable, and I’m glad the IOC hasn’t validated their claims against Khelif. Athletes’ rights and dignity should be paramount in these discussions.
I’m glad the IOC has not recognized the IBA’s claims about Khelif. As a cisgender woman, she should be able to compete without discrimination or transphobic accusations. The focus should be on her athletic abilities, not unverified allegations about her biology.
Fascinating story. It’s troubling to see the controversy surrounding Imane Khelif’s participation in the Paris Olympics, especially the allegations by the IBA, which seems to lack credibility. The gender eligibility issues in sports are complex and deserve fair, evidence-based approaches.