Imane Khelif Sex & Eligibility Explained 2025: Boxer, Controversy, IOC Ruling

Is Imane Khelif Male or Female? The Full Story

Imane Khelif is an Algerian boxer who has competed in women’s boxing categories for years. She identifies and is recognized as a female athlete in her sport. However, her eligibility has come under intense scrutiny after certain gender difference tests by the International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2023.

Here’s what we do know, and what remains unverified, based on public records and sport governing bodies’ statements:

What Happened: Disqualification & Tests (2023)

• In March 2023, during the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, Khelif was disqualified before her gold medal match, along with another boxer, Lin Yu-ting. The IBA cited that their tests “did not match eligibility criteria” for women’s events.

• The IBA claimed that DNA / gender-eligibility tests revealed features that conflicted with their definition of “female” competitors (they referenced “XY chromosomes”) and elevated competitive advantages.

• The IBA’s rules were updated: only individuals with “XX chromosomes” were defined as female, and those with “XY” (or failing tests) would be disqualified from female events per IBA’s criteria.

• Khelif appealed (to CAS) but the appeal was terminated due to her inability to pay procedural costs.

It’s important to note: the exact test methodology, data, or medical results (e.g. hormone levels, full chromosomal analysis) have not been made public by the IBA.

Thus, while the IBA’s decision cited “XY chromosomes,” no independent verification of those claims has been published.

IOC & Paris 2024: Reversal & Eligibility

• The International Olympic Committee (IOC), and specifically the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit, cleared Khelif to compete in women’s events. They assert that Khelif met all eligibility requirements under Olympic rules.

• The IOC publicly criticized the IBA’s disqualification as “sudden and arbitrary,” lacking due process.

• IOC spokesman Mark Adams emphasized that everyone competing in the women’s category conforms with eligibility rules, and that Khelif is “female in her passport, born female, and has boxed as female.”

• Because the IOC controls Olympic boxing (not the IBA for the 2024 Games) and uses its own gender eligibility framework, Khelif was allowed to compete despite the IBA’s exclusion.

What We Can Conclude — And What We Cannot

What Seems Supported by Evidence

• Imane Khelif is recognized as a female boxer by the IOC and by most media references.

• She is not transgender, as per public records and fact-checks. There is no evidence she ever identified as male or changed her gender identity.

• There is no verified medical report in the public domain proving she has XY chromosomes or elevated testosterone. The IBA made the claim, but the methodology and test results remain undisclosed and contested.

 What Remains Uncertain / Disputed

• Whether she actually has XY chromosomes or any intersex / difference of sexual development (DSD) trait — not confirmed publicly.

• The exact nature or validity of the IBA’s eligibility tests (their criteria, thresholds, or scientific justification) — these remain opaque.

• Whether any biological advantage exists in her case — that remains a matter of debate and speculation.

2024 Olympic Performance & Aftermath

• At Paris 2024, Khelif competed, winning her quarter-final match by unanimous decision (against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori) amidst the controversy.

• She secured Algeria’s first Olympic boxing medal since 2000, and the first female boxing gold for her country.

• In August 2024, she filed a complaint for moral harassment / defamation in France over gender-related online attacks and false accusations.

• In February 2025, she publicly rejected allegations from the IBA and vowed legal action.

Final Takeaway: Is Imane Khelif Male or Female?

In the absence of publicly verified medical evidence, and in light of the IOC’s recognition and her documented identity as female, the most accurate and respectful framing is:

• Imane Khelif is a female boxer (as recognized by her sporting authorities and identity).

• But because the IBA’s testing and exclusion claims remain controversial, her eligibility has become a flashpoint in broader debates around gender, fairness, and sport governance.

So the answer to “Is she male or female?” as per official recognition and identity: female — though with active questions, disputes, and ongoing scrutiny over certain medical and eligibility claims.

About the Author

Praise Graciebby is a content creator on Essie Book Blog, where she writes celebrity biographies, sports updates, gossip, and trending news. With a passion for entertainment and lifestyle journalism, Praise provides readers with simple, accurate, and up-to-date profiles of public figures worldwide.

Connect: Twitter · LinkedIn · Full Bio