Latest news with #InternationalOlympicCommittee
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sport
- Sky News AU
Olympic boxer Imane Khelif's leaked lab results offer new evidence about her biological sex
Newly leaked test results prove that Olympic boxer Imane Khelif does have male chromosomes — after the International Olympic Committee dismissed the claims as 'not legitimate' and let her compete in the Paris 2024 Games. Khelif – a 26-year-old who has long maintained she is female — was found to have male XY chromosomes in a 2023 test carried out by an accredited Indian doctor, newly obtained test results leaked by 3 Wire Sports show. 'Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype,' read the test results — referring to male chromosomes – which left Khelif barred from the 2023 women's World Boxing Championship in India. The test was conducted before that tournament by Dr. Lal Path Labs, a New Delhi lab with accreditation from the American College of Pathologists and certification from International Organization for Standardization, documents show. But despite those bona fides, the IOC dismissed the test as 'not legitimate' and 'ad hoc,' according to the Telegraph, and allowed Khelif to compete in the women's division at the 2024 Paris Olympic. Leaders of the Olympic committee went a step further and even suggested that the test could be misinformation planted by Russia – where World Boxing is based – to prevent the dominant athlete from competing on the world stage. Khelif went on to win gold in Paris and left the sport mired in controversy, while competitors expressed fears about facing her in the ring. Italy's Angela Carini said she feared for her life during an Olympic bout against Khelif that lasted just 46 seconds. The year before Khelif's chromosomal test, Mexico's Brianda Tamara Cruz also said she had a similar experience. 'I don't think I had ever felt like that in my 13 years as a boxer, nor in my sparring with men,' she said of their fight. The leak of Khelif's 2023 test comes just days after controversy was renewed when World Boxing mandated that athletes 18 and older must undergo genetic testing – which consists of a cheek swab — if they want to compete in any women's events. Khelif has never provided any evidence beyond her word to prove she is a woman, but has vowed to compete in the upcoming games. Originally published as Olympic boxer Imane Khelif's leaked lab results offer new evidence about her biological sex
Qatar Tribune
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Sheikh Joaan meets with IOC President-Elect
Tribune News Network Lausanne H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and a member of the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) Board, met today with Her Excellency Kirsty Coventry, President-Elect of the International Olympic Committee, on the sidelines of the Foundation's annual board meeting held at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland. The meeting was attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, underscoring the shared commitment of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Qatar Foundation to supporting refugee causes through sport, education, and community development. During the meeting, both sides discussed a range of topics of mutual interest, particularly the promotion of cooperation in the areas of sports governance, youth empowerment, and the expansion of Olympic-driven initiatives that leverage sport as a tool for sustainable development and social cohesion. The meeting also shed light on the sport programs designed for refugees and youth in host communities, as well as on ways to strengthen partnerships with international organizations in order to enhance the global impact and visibility of the Olympic Refuge Foundation.
Qatar Tribune
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Sheikh Joaan attends Olympic Refuge Foundation's Annual Board Meeting
Tribune News Network Lausanne H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and a member of the Board of the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF), attended in the Foundation's Annual Board Meeting held on Monday at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Olympism365 – Sport for a Better World Summit, hosted by the International Olympic Committee to strengthen the role of sport in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Dr. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee and Chair of the ORF and H.E. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, alongside fellow ORF Board Members. During the meeting, members reviewed the ORF's 2024 Annual and Financial Reports, discussed the 2025 operational plan, and endorsed the Foundation's 2025–2030 strategic framework. The board also explored opportunities to expand sport-based programs for refugees and youth in host communities and adopted important decisions regarding the future of the Foundation's global initiatives. Sheikh Joaan's participation reflects Qatar's commitment to support the ORF efforts as the QOC has played an active role in supporting the ORF's work across strategic, financial, and operational dimensions—including hosting the Refugee Olympic Team ahead of the Tokyo 2020 also has delivered targeted sports and humanitarian programs for displaced Palestinian and Afghan youth and hosted the ORF Board Meeting in Doha in April 2024. Qatar's initiatives and its continued support for the ORF have contributed to the implementation of 14 sports programs across 10 countries, providing thousands of young refugees with the opportunity to engage in sport within safe environments. These efforts have contributed to the development of essential life skills and have positioned sport as an effective tool for empowerment and social cohesion in host communities. On the occasion, Sheikh Joaan reaffirmed the Qatar Olympic Committee's deep commitment to supporting refugee athletes and promoting sport as a tool for peace and social cohesion. He emphasized the importance of Olympic partnerships in broadening the humanitarian impact of sport across the globe. He further noted that Qatar's experience in leveraging sport to support humanitarian causes offers a practical model that can be expanded and enhanced. He reiterated the QOC's readiness to continue working with international partners to scale joint initiatives and create safe spaces where refugee children and youth can access sport and integrate meaningfully into their new communities.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Bombshell document leaked as Olympic boxing gender scandal upended
Boxing has been rocked by the leaking of new documents that appear to show Olympic champ Imane Khelif is a biological male. The bombshell documents have dropped more than a year after the Algerian fighter sparked an international backlash as she went on to win the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Khelif was sanctioned to compete in Paris by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) despite being banned by the International Boxing Association (IBA) one year earlier. The IBA banned Khelif after biological samples were tested in New Delhi in 2023 — with the test results allegedly showing the DNA of a 'male'. It comes as World Boxing announced it is introducing mandatory gender testing to determine the eligibility of male and female athletes. World Boxing will organise the boxing competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after being granted provisional recognition by the IOC. World Boxing said it has informed the Algerian Boxing Federation that Khelif would have to undergo the test if she wanted to compete at the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands on June 5-10. The eyes of the world will be watching to see the results of any gender test Khelif may undergo through World Boxing — with her 2023 test result continuing to create headlines around the globe. As reported by The Sun, the IOC — who replaced the IBA as the Olympic's boxing governing body — were warned about the 2023 tests and urged to remove Khelif from the competition. But Khelif was allowed to box in Paris because of her female passport status. Now, the alleged sex-test results from the 2023 World Championships have been published for the first time by 3 Wire Sports. The medical report appears to indicate that the boxer is biologically male. American journalist Alan Abrahamson produced the result of a test said to have been carried out on the boxer in New Delhi in March 2023 - which triggered the boxer's disqualification. The document published summarises the findings on Khelif as 'abnormal', stating: 'Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype.' A karyotype refers to an individual's complete set of chromosomes, which in Khelif's case has been reported by (IBA) as being XY, the male pattern. The alleged test results carry the letterhead of Dr Lal PathLabs in New Delhi, accredited by the American College of Pathologists and certified by the Swiss-based International Organisation for Standardisation. This directly challenges what IOC spokesman Mark Adams said in a tense news conference at the Paris Olympics. He described the results that saw Khelif banned as 'ad hoc' and 'not legitimate'. IOC president Thomas Bach even claimed that the results are the product of a Russian-led misinformation campaign. It followed after the IBA - headed by Russia's Umar Kremlev - had been stripped of IOC recognition in a row over ethics and financial management. Khelif has always denied being a biological male and even named JK Rowling and Elon Musk in a cyberbullying lawsuit. And the 26-year-old has vowed to fight on, even eyeing another gold at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. But World Boxing has ruled that Khelif is ineligible to enter future events as a woman without first submitting to the same chromosome testing that has already triggered the boxer's disqualification at global level. The governing body - provisionally approved to run Olympic boxing in LA - announced that all athletes in its competitions over 18 years old must undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic test to determine their sex. The test detects chromosomal material through a mouth swab, saliva or blood. Khelif has failed to provide any evidence of having female chromosomes in the nine months since the gender scandal erupted. In February, Khelif spoke out in her defence and wrote: 'For two years, I have taken the high road while my name and image have been used, unauthorised, to further personal and political agendas through the spreading and dissemination of baseless lies and misinformation. But silence is no longer an option. 'The IBA, an organisation that I am no longer associated with and which is no longer recognised by the IOC, have again made baseless accusations that are false and offensive, using them to further their agenda. 'This is a matter that concerns not just me but the broader principles of fairness and due process in sport. 'My team is carefully reviewing the situation and will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that my rights and the principles of fair competition are upheld. 'Those responsible for these actions must be held accountable, and we will pursue all legal avenues to ensure that justice prevails.'
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif's medical report reveals she's 'biologically male'
A leaked medical report from the 2023 World Championships has revealed that Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif is biologically male, according to chromosome analysis. The report, made public just days after World Boxing ordered Khelif to undergo sex testing for eligibility in future female competitions, shows she has a male XY karyotype. This revelation challenges the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) earlier dismissal of such tests and has intensified debate over fairness and safety in women's boxing. The findings come amid ongoing controversy surrounding Khelif's participation in women's events, sparking calls for stricter verification procedures in sport. Imane Khelif's medical report contradicts IOC's official position The report, published on the 3 Wire Sports website, states that Khelif's chromosome analysis is 'abnormal' and confirms a male karyotype. It was conducted by Dr Lal PathLabs in New Delhi, a lab accredited by the American College of Pathologists and certified by the International Organisation for Standardisation. This directly challenges the IOC's spokesperson Mark Adams, who had described such test results as 'ad hoc' and 'not legitimate' during a press conference at the Paris Olympics. Image: ReduxxMag/ Controversy around the Imane Khelif's gold medal at Paris Olympic The controversy surrounding Imane Khelif's Olympic gold medal run began as early as her first bout in Paris, where she faced Italy's Angela Carini. Carini, an experienced and respected boxer, was visibly shaken during the match. Overwhelmed by Khelif's strength and intensity, she appeared distressed and left the ring in tears after the fight, later telling media she had feared for her safety. The unease only deepened in the final bout, where Khelif defeated Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting in a dominant display that many felt was physically one-sided. The power difference between the fighters drew sharp criticism, with commentators and athletes calling it 'uncomfortable to watch' and likening it to watching a man beat a woman in the ring. The moment became one of the most controversial of the Paris Games, fuelling an international debate over fairness and inclusion in women's sport. IOC calls findings misinformation IOC president Thomas Bach dismissed the report as part of a Russian-led misinformation campaign, citing ethical and financial issues within the International Boxing Association (IBA), which conducted the tests. Despite these claims, the legitimacy of the Indian lab's certification has increased pressure on the IOC to clarify its position and respond to questions about Khelif's eligibility. Response of World Boxing Federation Following the leak, World Boxing has declared that Khelif must pass mandatory chromosome testing before competing in any future female events. The 26-year-old Olympic champion, who was allowed to compete in Paris due to her female passport status, has so far not provided evidence to confirm female chromosomes. World Boxing now requires all athletes over 18 in its competitions to undergo PCR genetic testing to verify their sex, a measure introduced in response to this controversy. Fairness and safety concerns from athletes and federations The case has raised serious safety and fairness concerns within the boxing community. Opponents like Italy's Angela Carini and Mexico's Brianda Tamara have spoken out about the physical challenges they faced competing against Khelif. Latin American federations have been particularly vocal, urging that women's competitions be restricted to athletes assigned female at birth, in order to protect fairness and athlete safety. Ongoing debate on gender and sport eligibility The Khelif controversy highlights the complex and sensitive issues surrounding transgender and intersex athletes in competitive sport. It underscores the need for clear, consistent policies that balance inclusivity with fairness and safety. As governing bodies reassess their rules, the case remains a key example of the challenges faced in maintaining the integrity of women's sports. The ongoing debate around Imane Khelif's case brings to light just how complex and emotionally charged the conversation about gender and eligibility in sport has become. At the heart of it are real athletes — women who train for years and step into the ring expecting fairness. Many feel blindsided and unheard when competing against opponents whose physical attributes raise legitimate concerns about safety and equality. This isn't about exclusion, but about protecting hard-won opportunities for women in sport. Khelif's story reminds us that governing bodies must act transparently, thoughtfully, and with empathy for all athletes involved.
