Imane Khelif Cuts Ties with Boxing World Amid Controversy
The well-known female boxing champion Imane Khelif has reportedly severed connections with the boxing scene. This decision coincides with her unexpected silence after gaining gold in the women’s 66kg division at the 2024 Olympics without losing a single round.
Initially, three separate reports alleged that Khelif was assigned male at birth; however, these claims lacked substantiation until a fourth medical report surfaced, indicating that she had an XY chromosome. This revelation stirred considerable debate.
“She’s stopped everything right now,”
Experts from the International Boxing Association, along with the World Boxing Organization, confirmed through independent assessments that Khelif is biologically female. Following these findings, Kirsty Coventry, the newly appointed Olympic President, pledged to safeguard women’s sports. Concurrently, the WBO established new guidelines mandating gender tests for athletes.
The new regulations specify that athletes over the age of 18 must undergo genetic testing—either via PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) or a medically equivalent method—to ascertain their gender and eligibility based on birth records.
As Khelif retreated from the spotlight, her former manager made headlines regarding another boxer who, perhaps surprisingly, may not conform to traditional feminine standards.
French media outlets reported that Khelif has been absent from her boxing club for nearly 13 months. According to Nasser Yesfah, her previous manager, “She hasn’t even started again. She’s not in the ring anymore. What happened at the Olympics?”
Khelif has also withdrawn from communications with her French boxing gym, Azur Boxe, and returned to Algeria. “One night, she stopped updating her club, and we felt that shift… it was a blow for a small organization like ours,” commented Jim founder Tony Vivaleri.
Jennifer Say, a former national gymnastics champion and advocate for women’s sports, expressed enthusiasm about the WBO’s commitment to ensuring fair competition for women. “It’s straightforward—a basic visual check isn’t invasive, and it’s crucial for athletes’ careers,” she noted. She expressed eagerness for the results of Khelif’s gender tests.
Although Khelif seems to be outside of boxing for now, she recently shared a message reflecting her enduring competitive spirit. In a post, she acknowledged facing tough challenges but affirmed, “the fighting spirit is still alive within me.” She even included a photo that attempts to capture a more feminine look.
“I’m Imane Khelif. Yesterday I was a champion, today I’m resilient and I aim to come back tomorrow,” she reportedly said.
Last June, she was set to compete at the Aind Hoven Box Cup in the Netherlands, but her participation was marred as news of her chromosomal testing leaked beforehand, preventing her from competing against other female athletes.
