Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who won gold in the women’s boxing event at the Paris Olympics, is now facing intense scrutiny after a leaked medical report revealed she possesses male chromosomes and internal testicles.
The revelation has reignited debates on gender eligibility in women’s sports, with critics calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider its standards.
The leaked report, initially accessed by French journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia, was compiled by specialists at Paris’ Kremlin-Bicêtre Hospital and Algiers’ Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Hospital.
According to the report, Khelif has XY chromosomes, a condition known as 5-alpha reductase deficiency, and lacks a uterus while possessing internal testicles. The condition, which affects sexual development, is typically classified in biological males.
This information surfaced publicly despite earlier assessments by the International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2023, which had led to Khelif’s disqualification from competing in women’s boxing, though the IOC eventually permitted her participation based on her legal documents identifying her as female.
The IOC’s decision has sparked global criticism, with some advocating for the reevaluation of policies governing participation in women’s sports.
Marshi Smith, co-founder of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), has been particularly vocal, accusing the IOC and Algerian Olympic Committee of undermining women’s sport by allowing Khelif’s participation, which she described as an act of “endorsing male violence against women.”
Alan Abrahamson, an IOC press committee member, confirmed the report’s accuracy, stating that Khelif’s chromosomal status had been documented in both 2022 and 2023.
Some critics, including Smith, have called for Khelif to be stripped of her Olympic medal, arguing that current policies may jeopardize the fairness and integrity of women’s competitions.
Khelif’s case underscores ongoing tensions surrounding gender eligibility in women’s sports, with advocates on both sides pushing for clearer guidelines that balance inclusivity and fairness.
As the debate continues, the IOC faces growing pressure to provide clarity on how athletes with intersex conditions should be classified within gendered competitions.