Imane Khelif Faces Mandatory Genetic Testing Ahead of Boxing Return

Olympic boxing gold medalist Imane Khelif has been ordered to undergo genetic sex screening to remain eligible for events governed by the new body overseeing the sport.

On Friday, World Boxing introduced mandatory sex testing for all athletes and directly referenced Khelif in the announcement. According to the statement, the Algerian champion will need to pass screening to participate in any upcoming competitions, including next month’s Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands.

“The introduction of mandatory testing will be part of a new policy on ‘Sex, Age and Weight’ to ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women,” the organization said. National federations will carry out the tests and submit the results to World Boxing.

Khelif, who clinched gold at the Paris Olympics, was previously under the spotlight alongside Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, also a gold medalist. Both were barred from the 2023 world championships by the Russian-controlled International Boxing Association (IBA), which cited vague eligibility issues. Despite that, the International Olympic Committee allowed them to compete in Paris, using the sex eligibility criteria from earlier Olympic Games.

Hoping to defend her title at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Khelif is eyeing a return to international matches in Eindhoven. Yet, some athletes and federations have already expressed opposition to her participation.

Chromosome testing, once standard in 20th-century Olympic sports, was mostly abandoned in the 1990s due to its inability to address the nuances of differences in sex development (DSD)</a). Instead, sports organizations began favoring hormone-based assessments, though those too have drawn criticism for the tough calls they require, especially for women with naturally elevated testosterone levels.

Just three months ago, World Athletics reinstated chromosome testing, becoming the first Olympic sport to do so in modern times. Female athletes must now submit to the test once during their careers.

World Boxing, recently granted provisional approval to replace the IBA at the Los Angeles Games, now requires all competitors aged 18 and above to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic test. This method uses saliva, blood, or a swab to determine chromosomal sex at birth.

If an athlete competing in the women’s division is found to have male chromosomal material, World Boxing says the case will be escalated to independent medical specialists. These experts will conduct further evaluations — ranging from hormonal and anatomical assessments to full endocrine profiling. Athletes can appeal these decisions through a formal process.

This policy shift underscores the growing friction in global sports over sex and gender eligibility. The debate around transgender inclusion has drawn strong reactions worldwide, with political figures like Donald Trump weighing in on fairness in women’s sports.

Earlier in the year, World Athletics also proposed rules targeting athletes born female who naturally produce testosterone in male-typical ranges. In 2023, the organization barred transgender women who had experienced male puberty from competing in female categories.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe expressed confidence that their updated rules would hold up in court if challenged.

Khelif, now 26, had quietly competed in women’s boxing under the IBA until 2023. Her breakout moment came in Paris, where she dominated the welterweight field to win her first major international title — a gold that now sits at the heart of a new eligibility storm.