A bombshell leak from a 2023 medical report has reignited the debate over gender and fairness in women’s sports, alleging that Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif possesses male chromosomes.
The Paris 2024 gold medalist, who dominated the women’s 66kg boxing category without losing a round, is now at the center of a controversy that has been simmering for more than a year. Despite repeated denials and claims of discrimination, a page released by 3 Wire Sports reportedly shows chromosomal test results listing a “Male karyotype.”
‘Crystal Clear’ Results, Four Confirmations
According to 3 Wire Sports, the document was part of a test conducted to determine Khelif’s eligibility for the women’s division during the 2023 World Boxing Championships. The outlet described the results as “crystal clear,” indicating the presence of XY chromosomes, the typical male genetic makeup.
This latest revelation marks the fourth separate source to identify Khelif as biologically male. Previous assessments by the International Boxing Association, the World Boxing Organization, and endocrinological experts had all reportedly reached the same conclusion.
Still, Khelif and her team remain defiant.
“I see myself as a girl, just like any other girl,” Khelif said in March.
“I was born a girl, raised as a girl, and have lived my entire life as one.”
‘This Violence Will Not Be Allowed’
The gender debate has sparked outrage among women’s sports advocates. Former NCAA swimmer and women’s rights activist Kaitlynn Wheeler spoke firmly:
“Imane Khelif is a male who beat up women. This violence will not be allowed in the United States for the next Olympics, and it never should have been allowed in the first place.”
Her words reflect a broader pushback, especially in the U.S., against what some critics call the infiltration of women’s sports by biologically male athletes.
Yu Ting Lin Also Under Scrutiny
The Khelif case isn’t the only one raising eyebrows. Taiwanese boxer Yu Ting Lin, who claimed gold in the women’s 57kg category at the same Olympics, is also alleged to have failed a gender test.
As reported in August, Lin was stripped of a bronze medal after a biochemical test found she didn’t meet the eligibility criteria set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following the 2023 championships.
3 Wire Sports claims it reviewed Lin’s test as well, confirming the Taiwanese boxer as biologically male.
World Boxing: No More Gray Areas
In response to growing scrutiny, World Boxing recently updated its participation rules, mandating sex testing before allowing athletes to compete in female categories.
“World Boxing has written to the Algerian Boxing Federation to inform it that Imane Khelif will not be allowed to participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup or any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes sex testing,” said the organization, according to World Boxing News.
These new rules fall under World Boxing’s updated policy framework titled “Sex, Age and Weight”, designed to restore credibility and fairness in the sport.
The Bigger Picture
Khelif’s case cuts to the heart of a global debate: What defines eligibility in women’s sports? For advocates of strict biological guidelines, the evidence now circulating feels like long-awaited vindication. For Khelif and others in similar positions, it’s a deeply personal battle over identity, dignity, and the right to compete.
The coming months may force sports governing bodies to re-examine their frameworks, not just to protect fairness, but also to avoid the public backlash that erupts each time a controversy like this unfolds.
