Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif is being forced to undergo a genetic sex test to keep boxing — because World Boxing apparently thinks the 1990s are back. The new boxing governing body just dropped a bombshell: all athletes over 18 will now need to take a PCR genetic test to “prove” their sex at birth before stepping into the ring. That includes Algeria’s Khelif, the reigning queen of women’s welterweight boxing and one of the sport’s breakout stars after her gold medal win in Paris last summer.
The announcement — which suspiciously name-drops Khelif — sparked outrage and déjà vu for many in the LGBTQ and women’s sports communities. Mandatory chromosome testing had been ditched decades ago due to its murky science and damaging implications, especially for athletes with differences in sex development (DSD). But now, World Boxing wants it back, with saliva swabs and hormone tests ready at ringside.
Khelif, 26, had previously been disqualified from the 2023 world championships under vague “eligibility” claims, despite meeting Olympic standards. Now, as she prepares to fight in Eindhoven next month, she’s being told she has to re-prove her gender — with threats of further anatomical and hormonal examinations if her chromosomes don’t line up with the sport’s rigid expectations.
A Slippery Slope for Women and LGBTQ Athletes
The new rules don’t just apply to Khelif. Any woman over 18 competing under World Boxing’s umbrella now faces the same scrutiny. And let’s be real: the policy reads like a direct response to increasing pressure to police female bodies in sport — often under the thin veil of “fairness” and “safety.”
While transgender athletes are not directly mentioned, this move adds another layer to the already suffocating atmosphere for queer and gender-diverse competitors. It follows in the heavy footsteps of World Athletics, which earlier this year revived chromosome testing for track and field. That policy was widely criticized as discriminatory and invasive — and yet here we are again, now with mouth swabs in boxing gyms.
This decision sends a clear and disturbing message: if you don’t conform to narrow ideas of femininity, expect to be examined, excluded, or erased. It places women — especially those with nontraditional builds, higher testosterone levels, or intersex traits — under a microscope, often without cause or consent.
Gender Policing in the Ring
The implications of World Boxing’s policy go far beyond one boxer. It institutionalizes gender policing in a sport already riddled with power struggles and a long history of marginalizing women. While the organization claims this is about creating a “level playing field,” what it really creates is an atmosphere of suspicion and humiliation.
For LGBTQ athletes — especially trans and intersex boxers — the message is chilling. Participation isn’t just conditional; it’s invasive. Every punch thrown in the ring now comes with the unspoken question: Are you woman enough to be here?
Let’s not sugarcoat it — this isn’t about fairness. It’s about control. And it’s a reminder that even after breaking records and winning gold, athletes like Khelif still have to fight battles outside the ring just to be seen and respected for who they are.