The Algerian Boxing Federation has launched a scathing attack on World Boxing after Olympic silver medalist Imane Khelif was publicly named in connection with controversial new gender testing policies. The federation denounced the move as a gross violation of Khelif’s rights and dignity following the leak of a sensitive medical report alleging she is “biologically male.”
World Boxing, the sport’s new global governing body, recently announced the rollout of compulsory sex verification for all male and female athletes wishing to compete in sanctioned events. In their public statement, they cited Khelif as an example — a move that has sparked outrage in Algeria and beyond.
In a strongly-worded letter, the Algerian Boxing Federation condemned World Boxing’s actions, accusing the organization of inflicting “severe psychological harm” on the 25-year-old athlete. They insisted Khelif had been denied the opportunity to speak in her own defense and described the fallout as “immeasurable.”
The federation further criticized World Boxing for failing to consult Khelif’s medical specialists, particularly endocrinologists who have overseen her care. They stressed that such unilateral decisions undermine the principles of fairness and medical confidentiality that should be central to international sport.
Khelif, who was controversially barred from the 2023 World Championships alongside Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting over gender eligibility concerns, was later cleared to compete at the Olympics. The renewed scrutiny over her identity, however, has reignited tensions and raised serious questions about ethics, transparency, and athlete protection in elite boxing.
