Imane Khelif's Olympic gold medal win has sparked a heated debate about eligibility in women's boxing. The Algerian fighter's triumph at the Paris 2024 Games on August 9 quickly turned into a controversy when questions arose about her biological characteristics.
The situation got more complex when 3 Wire Sports published leaked genetic test results from a lab in New Delhi. These results suggested Khelif has XY chromosomes, which are typically found in males, and elevated testosterone levels. The tests also pointed to a condition called 5-alpha reductase deficiency.
Khelif wasn't happy about this information getting out. She felt harassed and thought her privacy had been violated, according to French media outlet Le Correspondant.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) got involved too. IOC President Thomas Bach stepped in and threw out two tests from 2023, adding another layer to the already complicated situation.
World Boxing, the organization in charge of the sport, has made some big changes because of all this. They've said they'll start mandatory sex testing next month. They've also said sorry to the Algerian Boxing Federation for how things were handled.
"I am writing personally to offer a formal and sincere apology for this and to acknowledge that your privacy should have been protected," World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst told the Algerian federation.
This whole situation might change things for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. World Boxing will be in charge of boxing there, and they're feeling pressure from boxers and federations about the rules for who can compete as a woman.
World Boxing says they want "to ensure the safety of all participants and to provide a level playing field for men and women."
Khelif plans to defend her medal in 2028, but some boxers and organizations don't want her to compete. This debate about who should be allowed to box in women's events isn't going away anytime soon.
