Fact Check: Imane Khelif's Eligibility For Olympic Boxing

Photo: Instagram/Imane Khelif

Despite criticism from some celebrities and politicians, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that Imane Khelif is eligible to compete in women's boxing at the Paris Games.

Khelif went viral after winning her first match against Italy's Angela Carini, who stopped fighting after just 46 seconds. Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from their championships in 2023 by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing gender eligibility tests, which the IOC later called a "sudden and arbitrary decision."

Both Khelif and Lin competed in the 2021 Tokyo Games but did not win medals. The IOC expressed sadness over the abuse these athletes have faced, emphasizing their commitment to protecting all athletes' human rights.

Photo: Instagram/Imane Khelif

Fact Check: Imane Khelif is a Woman

According to GLAAD and InterACT, Khelif is a woman. She has differences of sexual development (DSDs), which is not the same as being transgender.

What Are DSDs?

Differences in sexual development (DSDs) are rare conditions involving genes, hormones, and reproductive organs that can lead to unusual sexual development. This can result in someone having XY chromosomes but developing as female.

The IBA, no longer recognized as the international federation for boxing, stood by its decision to disqualify the boxers after two "independent" tests, though the details of these tests were not disclosed. The Washington Post reported that the IBA disqualified Khelif based on finding XY chromosomes.

The IOC bases gender and age verification for athletes on their passports. The Paris Games are the first to achieve gender parity, with no negative impact from transgender inclusion, according to GLAAD and InterACT. IOC guidelines state athletes should not be excluded due to alleged unfair advantages based on sex variations.

Political Backlash

In the U.S., transgender women in sports have become a controversial issue, with 25 states passing laws to ban transgender students from competing in sports that match their gender identity. This is despite research showing that transgender youth are a small part of the population and not all are interested in sports.

Former President Donald Trump used Khelif's win to further his campaign, falsely claiming she is a man and promising to keep "men out of women's sports." Trump's running mate JD Vance also shared a video of the match, making similar false claims.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the competition unfair, according to POLITICO.

Khelif has faced challenges growing up as a girl interested in sports, including having to raise money for her boxing lessons because her father did not approve. Despite this, she remains proud of her achievements, saying, "I started with nothing and now I have everything."

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Source: USA Today