Boxer Khelif in the gender dispute: Olympic champion before the end!

Boxer Khelif in the gender dispute: Olympic champion before the end!

IMANE KHELIF, an Algerian boxer, is the focus of a controversial topic that polarizes the world of sport. According to a report by Dr. Lal Patlabs has Khelif XY chromosomes, which indicates a male genetic nature. The Boxing Association World Boxing is now planning mandatory gender tests to ensure equal competitive conditions. Khelif, which is expected in Paris Gold in the Women's Olympics in Paris in 2024, was excluded from the Eindhoven Box Cup (June 5th to 10th) and has to undergo a chromosome test in order to prove its right to participate. This is reported by the Exxpress .

The controversy around Khelif continues: Chromosome tests during the World Championships 2022 and 2023 were found in male karyotypes. These results led to their disqualification of the IBA World Championships. Nevertheless, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kelif and the Taiwanese boxer Yu Ting Lin, who is also suspected, allowed to take part in the 2024 Olympics. While Khelif showed 14.7 NMOL/L testosterone - the maximum value for women is 3 NMOL/L - organizations such as Glaad and Interact support their identity as a woman and do not recognize Khelif as a transgender or intersex, such as the Sporting News

The background of the DSD discussion

This situation is embedded in a larger debate about athletes with deviations in sexual development (DSD), which are increasingly controversial in sport. Many athletes with DSD, like the Namibian 200 m runner Beatrice Masilingi, are forced to take testosterone blockers, which can negatively influence their sporting performances. The introduction of regulations that affect DSD athletes has already led to tensions within the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Boxing Association, as in an article by Sportschau is illustrated.

The IOC has spoken out against gender tests in the past, since they are considered not legitimate. According to IOC President Thomas Bach, the Khelif case is not a DSD case and confirms that both Khelif and Lin are women. Critics of this perspective argue that the integration of DSD athletes into the women's category could endanger competitive integrity. The discussion about the participation of athletes with male chromosomes in women's competitions not only focuses on legal, but also ethical questions.

The future approach of the International Boxing Association and similar institutions remains crucial for the integration of athletes with DSD into sport. The World Boxing announced that the new guideline for gender tests will come into force on July 1st. Khelif has already received the notification that she cannot take part in competitions in the female category without evidence of her gender identity. This brings the question of equality in sport to the table again and illustrates the complexity of the gender discussion in professional sport.