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≡ KHELIF APPEAL DENIED ≡
Algeria’s Paris Olympic women’s 66 kg gold medalist, Imane Khelif, does not want to take a sex-test to compete at the World Boxing Championships that begin on 4 September.
World Boxing, now responsible for governance worldwide of Olympic boxing, announced on 30 May that sex-screening would be required to compete in its sanctioned events, including the Eindhoven Box Cup in The Netherlands from 5-10 June.
The announcement noted that the Algerian federation was specifically informed that Khelif would be required to take the test. Khelif declined to take the test and did not compete, and World Boxing apologized to Khelif a few days later for singling her out.
The federation, however, formally announced on 20 August that it requires all entries for the World Boxing Championships – starting in Liverpool (GBR) on Thursday – to take the test:
● “It means that all athletes who wish to take part in the 10 female weight categories at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool will need to undergo a PCR or functional medical equivalent genetic screening test to certify their eligibility to box.”
● “Athletes deemed to be female at birth, as evidenced by the presence of XX chromosomes or the absence of Y chromosome genetic material (the SRY gene) or with a DSD where male androgenization does not occur, will be eligible to compete in the female category.”
● “Where test results for boxers that want to compete in the female category reveal Y chromosome genetic material and a potential Difference of Sexual Development (DSD), the initial screenings will be referred to World Boxing’s expert medical panel for genetic screening, hormonal profiles, anatomical examination or other valuation of endocrine profiles by medical specialists. The policy includes an appeals process, and support will be offered to any boxers that provide an adverse test result.”
So Khelif filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport – on 5 August, two weeks before the formal World Boxing policy was announced – so that she could compete without taking the test. On Monday:
“On 1 September 2025, CAS dismissed a request to suspend the execution of the decision by World Boxing until the case is heard.
“The Parties are currently exchanging written submissions and with their agreement, a hearing will be scheduled. CAS procedures whilst ongoing, are confidential.”
Unless an emergency hearing is scheduled, the appeal will roll well past the World Boxing Championships; the women’s 65 kg class will open on Friday, 5 September, and the issue regarding Khelif’s participation will be moot.
However, Khelif can continue with an appeal for injunctive relief going forward to allow her to compete without a test.
Khelif won an IBA World Championships silver in 2022 but was disqualified by the IBA during the 2023 Worlds for “gender ineligibility” issues, without any documentation.
Conversely, Agence France Presse reported on 21 August that the coach of Paris Olympic women’s 57 kg winner, Yu-ting Lin (TPE) – a two-time World Champion in 2018 (54 kg) and 2022 (57 kg) and who was also disqualified by the IBA in 2023 – said that she would comply with the testing regulations.
Final entries have not been posted yet.
Observed: Khelif has said that she is not done with boxing, but a refusal to comply with the World Boxing sex-test regulations does not offer a positive indicator that she can pass such a test. Only time will tell.
The release of the final entries for Liverpool will be closely followed to see if Lin is in the women’s 57 kg field.
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