IOC Responds to Leaked Report on Boxer Khelif Biological Male Status

Olympic gold-winning Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has become the center of a major controversy following the leak of a 2023 medical report indicating that Khelif is biologically male, with chromosome analysis revealing an XY karyotype. Despite this, Khelif competed and won gold in the women's welterweight boxing category at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowing participation based on the gender listed on passports. Critics, including former Team GB swimmer Sharron Davies and evolutionary biologist Heather Heying, assert that Khelif and their team were aware of this biological fact during the Games, accusing the IOC and World Boxing of negligence and unfair advantage to female competitors. The IOC has responded by stating that eligibility criteria fall to the respective international federations and awaits details on implementing sex testing safely and fairly. In response, World Boxing has introduced mandatory sex testing for all boxers wishing to compete in female events, acknowledging prior controversy and apologizing for earlier missteps. This situation has ignited broader debate on gender eligibility in sports, with prominent figures calling for accountability and the stripping of medals if cheating is confirmed.