For Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, winning Olympic gold came with a heated debate over gender eligibility tests that began a year earlier. This article separates confirmed facts from disputed claims.

4 related posts

Age: 27 years old (as of 2025) · Nationality: Algerian · Olympic gold medal: 2024 Paris, women’s welterweight · Disqualification event: 2023 World Championships, gender eligibility test · Country statement: Algeria condemned medical leak as ‘baseless’

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • 1999: Born in Tiaret, Algeria. (Straight Arrow News)
  • 2023: Disqualified by IBA for failing gender test. (Wikipedia)
  • July 2024: Wins Olympic gold in Paris. (Wikipedia)
  • Feb 2026: Offers to take sex test for 2028 Olympics (Straight Arrow News)
4What’s next
  • World Boxing mandates sex testing for all athletes (TIME (policy change))
  • Khelif must undergo testing to compete in World Boxing events (Straight Arrow News (written to Algerian federation))

Five key facts from public records and official statements paint the baseline picture.

Label Value
Full name Imane Khelif
Sport Boxing
Olympic medal Gold, Paris 2024 (women’s welterweight)
Disqualification 2023 IBA World Championships
Reason for DQ Failed gender eligibility test

What is the gender of Imane Khelif?

Official documents and self-identification

  • Imane Khelif is legally female and competes in the women’s category under Algerian law and Olympic criteria.
  • She won the women’s 66 kg gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics after being cleared by the IOC.

Summary of medical and competitive data

Public records show Khelif has always competed in the female category. The International Boxing Association (IBA) challenged that classification in 2023 with a chromosome test that they claimed indicated XY chromosomes.

Bottom line: Imane Khelif is legally female by national and Olympic standards. The IBA’s contrary determination is based on a test the IOC called “flawed” and “not legitimate,” and no independent verification has been published.
The catch

The IOC allowed Khelif to compete in Paris despite the IBA ban, describing the IBA’s eligibility tests as part of a politically motivated “cultural war.”

Why did Khelif fail the gender test?

Details of the 2023 IBA disqualification

The International Boxing Association disqualified Khelif during the 2023 Women’s World Championships in New Delhi after she did not pass the gender eligibility criteria. The exact testing methodology was not publicly disclosed. A statement from the IBA said the test showed “chromosomal differences in a DSD-related scenario.”

Chromosome test results and IBA statement

The IBA reported that DNA tests found XY chromosomes, a claim made with medium confidence because the IBA has not released full documentation. The IOC rejected the findings, calling the tests “not legitimate” and criticizing the IBA’s governance.

Why this matters

If the IBA’s test result is accurate, Khelif would have a difference of sex development (DSD). But without independent verification, the controversy remains a clash between two governing bodies rather than settled science.

Does Imane Khelif have a uterus?

Leaked medical reports

A leaked medical report cited by a French outlet claimed Khelif has no uterus and that her blood work showed XY chromosome markers. TIME reported it could not independently verify the test. The Algerian Olympic Committee condemned the leak as “baseless” and part of a political attack.

Anatomical variation and chromosomal sex

Medical experts note that some individuals with XY chromosomes have typical female external anatomy and a uterus (e.g., complete androgen insensitivity syndrome), while others may lack a uterus (e.g., Swyer syndrome). Without a confirmed medical report, Khelif’s internal anatomy is unknown.

Bottom line: Leaked documents suggest absence of a uterus, but they are unverified. Algeria denies their authenticity, and no official medical record from Khelif’s team has been released.

What chromosomes did boxer Khelif have?

IBA data and media reports

The IBA said its test showed XY chromosomes. A leaked French medical report also suggested an XY karyotype, but TIME could not verify the document. Khelif herself has not publicly disclosed any test results.

Scientific context for XY in females

XY chromosomes occur naturally in females with DSD conditions such as androgen insensitivity syndrome or Swyer syndrome. These individuals often have typical female social and athletic identities. The IOC has said that the presence of XY chromosomes alone does not determine eligibility for women’s sport.

The paradox

If Khelif indeed has XY chromosomes, she would join a small group of elite female athletes with DSD — a category that includes multiple Olympic medalists. The question is whether the governing body’s test is reliable, not just the result.

What syndrome does Imane Khelif have?

No authoritative diagnosis has been publicly attached to Khelif. The IBA referenced “chromosomal differences in a DSD-related scenario” but did not name a specific syndrome. A Hungarian Conservative article reported that Khelif acknowledged having the SRY gene on a Y chromosome and elevated testosterone levels that she had been suppressing. However, that report is from a low-confidence source and has not been confirmed by Khelif or her representatives.

Medical conditions associated with XY chromosomes and female phenotype include Swyer syndrome (no functional gonads) and complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (testes present but body does not respond to testosterone). Without medical records, it is impossible to assign a specific syndrome.

What to watch

World Boxing now requires sex testing for all athletes. If Khelif submits to that process, a diagnosis could become public. If she doesn’t, she may be barred from the 2028 Olympics under World Boxing’s rules.

Timeline of key events

  • 1999: Imane Khelif born in Tiaret, Algeria.
  • 2023: Disqualified from the IBA World Championships after a gender eligibility test (Wikipedia).
  • July 2024: Wins women’s welterweight gold at Paris Olympics (TIME).
  • 2025: Algeria condemns leak of medical documents (Straight Arrow News).
  • February 2026: Khelif states she will take a sex test for the 2028 Olympics (Straight Arrow News).

Clarity check: what we know and what remains open

Confirmed facts

  • Khelif is an Algerian female boxer by self-identification and Olympic entry.
  • She was disqualified from the 2023 IBA World Championships (Straight Arrow News).
  • She won Olympic gold in Paris 2024 (TIME).
  • The IOC allowed her to compete and described the IBA’s tests as flawed (TIME).

What’s unclear

  • Whether the leaked medical documents are authentic and complete (TIME).
  • The exact chromosome test results (no independent verification) (Straight Arrow News).
  • Whether Khelif has a uterus or the SRY gene (no public confirmation by Khelif).

Quotes from key actors

The IBA said the test showed ‘chromosomal differences in a DSD-related scenario.’

— IBA official statement on disqualification (2023), via Straight Arrow News

Condemned the leak as ‘baseless’ and part of a political attack.

— Algerian Olympic Committee, as reported by Straight Arrow News

Summary

Imane Khelif is an Olympic gold medalist whose career now depends on the outcome of a sex-testing mandate from World Boxing. For the Algerian athlete, the choice is clear: undergo the test and potentially settle the biological debate, or face exclusion from the 2028 Olympics under rules that have already been enacted.

Additional sources

youtube.com, foxnews.com

The debate over her chromosomes and the IBA ruling is explored in depth in a separate piece on the gender eligibility controversy explained, while many continue to discuss what defines womanhood in Olympic boxing.

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Frequently asked questions

What gender is Imane Khelif?

She is legally female and competes in the women’s category. The IOC accepted her entry for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Why was Imane Khelif disqualified from the 2023 World Championships?

The IBA said she failed a gender eligibility test that indicated XY chromosomes. The IOC disputed the validity of the test.

Does Imane Khelif have XY chromosomes?

The IBA claims her DNA test showed XY chromosomes. A leaked medical report also suggested this, but neither has been independently verified.

What is the SRY gene?

The SRY gene on the Y chromosome triggers male development. Some females with DSD conditions have it. Khelif has not publicly confirmed its presence.

Is Imane Khelif married?

There is no public information about her marital status.

What are Imane Khelif’s height and fighting style?

She stands 1.79 m and fights as an orthodox boxer. Detailed records are available on Wikipedia.

What did Algeria say about the medical leak?

The Algerian Olympic Committee called the leak “baseless” and accused foreign actors of politicizing the issue.

Will Imane Khelif fight in the 2028 Olympics?

She has said she will take a sex test if required. World Boxing has mandated testing for all athletes, which will determine her eligibility.

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