World Boxing has imposed a ban on Imane Khelif, the Olympic gold medalist, preventing her from participating in future women’s competitions until she submits to mandatory biological sex verification. This decision follows growing pressure from advocates emphasizing fairness and safety in female sports divisions, who had criticized the decision to allow Khelif to compete again at the upcoming Eindhoven World Cup.
The Algerian boxer, whose 2023 Paris Olympic victory sparked worldwide controversy, was disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after tests revealed the presence of male chromosomes. Despite the ruling, Khelif has not undergone the required sex verification testing in the nine months since, instead focusing on legal actions against public figures and maintaining a high-profile media presence. Her ambitions to defend her Olympic title at the 2028 Los Angeles Games now appear uncertain.
World Boxing’s announcement introduced a new protocol under its “Sex, Age, and Weight” policy, mandating national federations to conduct and report genetic screenings to safeguard a fair and secure competitive environment. This measure specifically addresses cases like Khelif’s and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who were previously barred by the International Boxing Association for similar eligibility concerns but allowed to compete under more lenient Olympic Committee guidelines based on gender documentation.
The organization informed both Khelif and the Algerian boxing federation about the updated regulations, clarifying that she will remain ineligible for the Eindhoven Box Cup and all future events until she complies with the genetic testing requirements. Notably, the statement carefully avoided gender pronouns when referring to Khelif, reflecting the sensitive and disputed nature of her eligibility status.
Initially, tournament organizers had promoted Khelif’s return, only to face immediate backlash from women’s rights groups in Europe who announced protests. Fearing that the event would devolve into a public spectacle, World Boxing swiftly enforced the policy update to protect the physical safety and emotional well-being of all competitors, including Khelif. The governing body emphasized that this move was essential to uphold integrity and maintain a respectful, level playing field in women’s boxing.
