Algerian gold medallist Imane Khelif is required to undergo genetic screening in order to participate in future boxing events, according to the sport’s governing body, World Boxing. The announcement came as the organization introduced mandatory sex testing for all boxers.
Khelif, who secured the women’s welterweight gold at the Paris Olympics last year, has been the subject of a gender-eligibility dispute. World Boxing has explicitly stated that Khelif will not be allowed to compete in the female category at any upcoming event until she completes the required genetic sex screening in accordance with their rules and testing procedures.
The new policy applies to all athletes over the age of 18 who wish to compete in World Boxing-owned or sanctioned competitions. These athletes will need to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic test, which will determine their biological sex at birth and their eligibility to compete. The test can be conducted through various methods such as nasal or mouth swab, saliva or blood sample.
National federations will be responsible for conducting the tests and providing certification of their athletes’ chromosomal sex before entering them into World Boxing competitions. Khelif was unavailable for comment and the Algerian Boxing Federation did not respond to inquiries regarding the development.
Khelif previously stated, “For me, I see myself as a girl, just like any other girl. I was born a girl, raised as a girl, and have lived my entire life as one.” She added that she has competed in numerous tournaments and faced campaigns against her once she started achieving success.
The 26-year-old is aiming for a second gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games after her triumph in Paris. Her Olympic success, along with that of Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, sparked a significant gender eligibility debate in Paris, with prominent individuals including former US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk expressing their views.
In February, Trump signed an executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. Khelif stated that she would not be intimidated by Trump as she identifies as a girl and is not transgender.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/31/olympic-boxing-champ-imane-khelif-requires-gender-test-to-continue-fighting?traffic_source=rss
