Algerian Boxer Aymane Khelif Required to Undergo Mandatory Gender Test to Compete in World Boxing Events
Algerian boxer Aymane Khelif will be required to undergo a mandatory gender test if they wish to compete in women’s boxing competitions organized by World Boxing, the sanctioning body set to oversee the sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Khelif won gold in the welterweight division at the Paris 2024 Olympics, defeating Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting in the final. However, Khelif’s story has drawn global attention and sparked intense controversy surrounding gender eligibility in sports.
Although Khelif was previously disqualified from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing gender eligibility tests, they were later allowed to compete at the Paris Olympics—a decision that has fueled ongoing debate.
In response, World Boxing has taken over all boxing-related Olympic activities leading up to 2028 and has announced the implementation of mandatory sex testing for future events.
A statement released on Friday, May 30, 2025, stated:
“Imane (also known as Aymane) Khelif will not be eligible to participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup (scheduled from June 5 to 10, 2025), or in any event organized by World Boxing, unless and until they undergo genetic sex testing in accordance with World Boxing’s rules and testing procedures.”
