Olympian Imane Khelif's Medical Report Claims She Is ‘Biologically Male'
Samples were collected at Dharamshila Hospital in Vasundhara Enclave, near Mayur Vihar in East Delhi.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif became the centre of controversy after winning gold in the women's welterweight category at the Paris 2024 Olympics amid claims questioning her biological sex. These claims have resurfaced following the release of new details about a chromosome test conducted before the Olympics. A 3 Wire Sports report revealed that she had undergone a chromosome test in 2023 ahead of the Women's World Championships. The test, according to the report, was conducted by Dr Lal Path Labs in New Delhi. Samples were collected at Dharamshila Hospital in Vasundhara Enclave, near Mayur Vihar in East Delhi.
3 Wire Sports also shared a portion of the 2023 test. Under the 'Interpretation' section of the report, it read: 'Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype." A karyotype refers to the full set of chromosomes in a person's cells. Humans typically have 46 chromosomes in 23 pairs. The pair that determines biological sex is either XX (female) or XY (male). The test result allegedly showed the presence of XY chromosomes in Khelif's case.
Following this test result, Khelif was barred from competing in the 2023 Women's World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) alongside Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting. But by the time the Paris Olympics took place, boxing was being overseen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which had stripped the IBA of its status due to concerns over its governance.
Under IOC guidelines, eligibility was determined based on official documentation like a passport that listed the athlete as 'female." This allowed Khelif to compete and ultimately win gold in Paris.
At a Paris news conference, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said, 'Those tests are not legitimate. The tests themselves, the process of the tests and the ad hoc nature of the tests are not legitimate. The testing, the method of the testing, the idea of the testing, which happened kind of overnight. None of it is legitimate and this does not deserve any response."
But once the 3 Wire Sports report surfaced on social media, many users criticised the IOC and expressed anger over the unfair judgement.
One user commented, 'So the test confirmed Khelif is biologically male — disqualified in 2023, Olympic gold in 2024. What changed? Not the chromosomes. Silence from the IOC, silence from MSM. Women sacrificed, truth buried."
Another wrote, 'They knew Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was male and allowed him to batter a female contestant at the 2024 #Olympics. Male average power in a punching motion is 162% greater than females. #Misogyny doesn't describe it."
'So this could have been completely cleared up before he fought as a woman and beat women out of a medal that they rightfully deserved?" someone asked.
'It's a shame they let that guy win," read another comment.
Amid the growing criticism, World Boxing announced it will now require mandatory genetic sex testing for all boxers competing in the female category. It also said that Khelif would not be allowed to compete in any of its events unless she completes such a test under its official procedures.
But after naming Khelif in its announcement, World Boxing faced its backlash and later apologised to the Algerian Boxing Federation.
According to BBC, World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst issued a statement saying, 'I am writing to you all personally to offer a formal and sincere apology for this and acknowledge that her privacy should have been protected. By reaching out to you personally, we show our true respect to you and your athletes."
Khelif had been set to make a competitive comeback at the Eindhoven Box Cup from 5-10 June.
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