Imane Khelif Appeals to CAS Over Mandatory Genetic Sex Testing by World Boxing
Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after World Boxing’s decision requiring genetic sex testing for female competitors.
Olympic welterweight champion Imane Khelif has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after World Boxing introduced mandatory genetic sex testing for all athletes aged 18 and over competing in its events.
The 26-year-old Algerian is seeking to overturn the May ruling and to be declared eligible for the 2025 World Championships without undergoing a PCR genetic test, which she argues unfairly bars her from the female category. CAS has dismissed a request to suspend the policy while the appeal is pending.
Contested Policy
In May, World Boxing announced that competitors must undergo a PCR genetic test to verify their sex at birth before entering any sanctioned competition. The governing body later apologised for specifically naming Khelif in its announcement.
Background of Dispute
Khelif clinched welterweight gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024 amid controversy over her gender eligibility. The International Boxing Association (IBA) had previously disqualified her and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting from the 2023 World Championships over alleged gender test failures.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) cleared Khelif to compete in Paris, stating that athletes whose passports list them as female are eligible for women’s events. The IOC also clarified the matter did not involve a transgender athlete dispute.
Next Steps
Both sides have exchanged written submissions, and a hearing before CAS will be scheduled in due course. World Boxing received provisional IOC recognition as the sport’s international federation in February 2025.
Imane Khelif’s appeal highlights the growing debate over fairness, privacy, and the use of genetic testing in women’s sport.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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