Imane Khelif, a boxer central to the ongoing Olympics gender debate, is skipping boxing competitions in the Netherlands after World Boxing mandated sexual testing for all participants. Khelif, the Algerian boxer who secured a gold medal in Paris amid scrutiny over her eligibility last summer, failed to register for the upcoming tournament before the deadline on Thursday.
She had intended to return to the international scene at the Hotel Eindhoven event, but the new sexual testing policy announced last Friday changed her plans.
Eindhoven’s Mayor, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, voiced criticism regarding World Boxing’s decision. He stated in a letter to the Dutch Boxing Federation that all athletes should be welcome, except those subjected to the “gender test,” which he deemed controversial. Dijsselbloem urged the organization to reconsider its stance on Khelif.
Reports have surfaced indicating that medical documents from chromosomal tests conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA) before the 2022 and 2023 World Championships indicated Khelif’s DNA revealed a “marker of male karyotypes.” The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized the IBA amidst ongoing concerns regarding its governance and financial ties to Russian interests.
The tests revealed no abnormalities at 450-550 banding resolution, and were conducted before the boxing championship in an accredited lab in New Delhi.
Fox News Digital sought comments from World Boxing, the Algerian Olympic Committee, and Khelif’s representatives regarding the situation.
The IOC responded, stating that eligibility standards fall under the jurisdiction of each nation’s league. They emphasized that the criteria for sports performance vary by sport and will provide details on how sex tests are administered safely and fairly.
Khelif was disqualified from the 2023 championship prior to the gold medal match due to gender eligibility concerns. Her name gained attention during Olympic qualifying when gender issues began surfacing. In her first match at the Paris Games, Khelif won against Angela Carini, and the IOC defended her. Despite the controversy, she continued to achieve victories and was awarded a gold medal eventually.
However, the IBA disqualified Khelif and another athlete, Lin Yu-Thing from Taiwan, during the World Championships for not meeting the eligibility criteria for women’s competition. The IBA noted Khelif underwent two tests, in 2022 and 2023, and mentioned her appeal to the Sports Arbitration Court, which she later withdrew, making the IBA’s ruling binding.
Khelif maintains her stance that she identifies as female, having filed lawsuits against online critics and detractors. Before the World Boxing announcement, Khelif expressed her intent to compete in the 2028 Olympics, even amidst political statements regarding transgender participation in sports.
Khelif was quoted conveying her identity and perspective on transgender issues, emphasizing that she considers herself a girl just like any other, having been raised as such.
