President of the International Boxing Association Demands the Return of Olympic Gold Medal from Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif
ALDAR/
A second test has revealed that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif carries an XY chromosomal pattern, the genetic makeup typically associated with males. This revelation has reignited controversy over her participation in women’s competitions and sparked a wave of criticism regarding the integrity and gender classification standards in international sports events.
Umar Kremlev, President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), did not hesitate to publicly demand the return of the gold medal won by Khelif, asserting that her victory is invalid and unfair to the other female competitors. Kremlev emphasized that adhering to biological and gender classification rules is essential to maintaining the credibility of competitive sports, stressing that “winning by cheating undermines the spirit of sport.”
The incident has triggered a storm of outrage among followers of combat sports, especially as more voices call for severe sanctions against the Algerian Boxing Federation, which allowed Khelif to compete despite months of growing suspicions surrounding her biological status. Some observers have described the situation as a “sporting scandal” that damages the reputation of Algerian athletics and raises serious questions about the criteria used to determine athletes’ eligibility to compete in gender-based categories.
Imane Khelif had previously drawn attention for her high-level performance in the ring, but suspicions regarding her biological sex began to grow after videos and comments emerged highlighting her extraordinary physical strength compared to other female boxers.
