Olympic boxing gold medalist Imane Khelif will be required to undergo a mandatory sex test to compete in World Boxing events, the organization announced Friday.
This decision comes amidst ongoing controversy surrounding gender eligibility in the sport, intensified by Khelif’s victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Khelif, 26, previously disqualified from the 2023 World Championships by the former governing body (IBA) over gender eligibility concerns, was cleared by the IOC to compete in Paris based on passport identification.
World Boxing, now provisionally recognized by the IOC, has implemented a new policy mandating a PCR genetic test for all athletes over 18 to determine sex at birth.
World Boxing stated the policy aims to ensure safety and fairness, citing the physical risks in boxing. Khelif has always competed as a woman, and the IOC previously clarified her case is “not a transgender case.”
The new rules require national federations to certify athletes’ chromosomal sex, with further evaluation by specialists for those with Y chromosome material or potential differences of sexual development (DSD) in the female category.
