The findings from a medical examination of Olympic champion Imane Khelif at the 2023 World Championships indicate that the boxer is biologically male. These purported results emerged less than two days after World Boxing mandated that Khelif must undergo sex screening to qualify for any future participation in female events.
Khelif secured a gold medal in women’s boxing while representing Algeria at the Paris Games last summer. Despite World Boxing being aware of the 2023 test over a year prior, Khelif was considered eligible to compete in France, with IOC president Thomas Bach having previously raised concerns regarding the test’s validity.
The document, reviewed by 3 Wire Sports through Telegraph Sport, states, ‘Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype.’ Broadcaster Piers Morgan was among the first to react to the test reports, posting on the social media platform X: ‘The biology-denying woke brigade criticized and shamed me for asserting that it was outrageous and dangerous for Khelif to be competing against women at the Olympics.
I await their apology, though I won’t hold my breath.’ Former Olympian Sharron Davies also expressed her belief in the report, stating: ‘When did we cease to trust our eyes and instincts? Oh yes, when we decided that women’s sports were insignificant…’ Reports have surfaced indicating that Imane Khelif’s 2023 gender eligibility test was unsuccessful.
Conservative activist Riley Gaines also commented, referring to Khelif using male pronouns and stating: ‘To all those who insisted Imane Khelif was a woman because his passport indicated so… You were mistaken. We were correct. Sincerely, People with functioning eyes and a modicum of honesty.’ The results are said to have been collected on March 17, 2023—the same year Khelif was disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA), the previous governing body for the sport, for ‘failing gender eligibility tests.’
The document is claimed to have originated from Dr. Lal Path Labs in New Delhi, a laboratory accredited by the American College of Pathologists and certified by the International Organization for Standardization.
Khelief has previously indicated her intention to defend her gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in three years. World Boxing possesses some Olympic authority, having been announced as the provisional body to conduct testing for the Los Angeles Games, requiring all individuals over 18 to undergo PCR testing to ascertain their sex.
The governing body stated that the PCR test is a laboratory method utilized to identify specific genetic material, with the SRY gene indicating the presence of the Y chromosome, which serves as a marker for biological sex. The test can be performed via nasal/mouth swab, saliva, or blood. The governing body mentioned that this testing will be part of a new policy on ‘Sex, Age and Weight’, which it asserts will guarantee a safe and competitive environment.
World Boxing disclosed the details of a letter sent to the Algerian Boxing Federation, confirming that Khelif is prohibited from competing in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup or any World Boxing event until she completes sex testing.
Since her victory, Khelif has participated in several television programs defending her position. ‘Imane Khelif may not compete in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup, scheduled for 5-10 June 2025, or any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes genetic sex screening in accordance with World Boxing’s regulations and testing protocols,’ the letter stated.
‘According to the World Boxing Statutes, changes to the Competition Rules are generally made by Congress. However, in special or emergency situations, the World Boxing Executive Board has the authority to implement immediate amendments when a rule is found to be ineffective or when changing conditions require a modification.’
In May 2025, the Executive Board exercised this power and established new eligibility criteria for participation in sex-specific boxing categories. These new eligibility standards were created with the specific aim of protecting athletes in combat sports, especially considering the physical dangers associated with Olympic-style boxing. ‘Please be advised that
The report was originally compiled in 2023 through a collaboration of French and Algerian expert endocrinologists from the Kremlin-Bicetre hospital in Paris and the Mohamed Lamine Debaghine hospital in Algiers. The unverified report claims that Khelif possesses male characteristics.
However, Jacques Young, an endocrinologist at Bicester Hospital in Paris who is said to have co-authored the document, informed DW in Germany that he believes his name is being misused to propagate false information. Young also suggested that he has been exploited to promote an anti-trans agenda. ‘I think your statement accurately reflects reality,’ he remarked when questioned about whether his name was being utilized for such purposes.