A women’s rights group has called for Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s Olympic gold medal to be revoked after an alleged report surfaced, suggesting she may be ‘biologically male.’
Khelif, along with Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, became the center of a ‘gender row’ controversy during the Olympics after both were allowed to compete, despite failing gender eligibility tests at last year’s World Championships.
In 2023, Khelif was barred from the Women’s World Boxing Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA), but the International Olympic Committee (IOC)—which had suspended the IBA—permitted her to compete in the Olympics.
Recently, an unverified French report suggested that Khelif, age 25, possesses ‘male characteristics’ and has XY chromosomes. In response, Kim Jones, co-founder of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), stated that Khelif’s medal, awarded with IOC approval, should be reallocated to the highest-performing female athlete.
“We believe the medal and all awards should be reassigned to the top female competitor,” Jones told German publication BILD, further calling for sanctions on those responsible, including IOC and Algerian team officials, whom she accused of undermining women’s achievements through “deception.”
According to the report, French and Algerian endocrinologists from Kremlin-Bicetre Hospital in Paris and Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Hospital in Algiers collaborated on the findings. However, Jacques Young, an endocrinologist from Bicetre Hospital, expressed concern to DW in Germany, stating that his name might be falsely associated with the report.
The Algerian Olympic Committee responded, condemning the allegations as “unsubstantiated attacks” intended to tarnish an athlete who has brought pride to the nation on an international scale. The IOC declined to comment, citing ongoing legal actions and the lack of verified documents. They reiterated a previous statement regarding the Paris Olympics controversy.
