Olympics spotlight: Imane Khelif & navigating gender controversy in Olympic women’s boxing

Be honest, did you believe Imane Khelif was a man? Did you glance at a bunch of badly researched news reports and social media posts written by people with no credentials and very little in-depth understanding of biology, intended to mislead the public and form the opinion that she had XY chromosomes and elevated levels of testosterone? Did you perhaps even go so far as to post your own misguided comments expressing rage and disgust that she had been allowed to compete in the Olympics? You wouldn’t be alone if you did.

Following her opening bout against Italy’s Angela Carini on August 1st, when her opponent stopped the fight after just 46 seconds, claiming she had never been punched so hard and feared for her life, the internet came alive with new levels of abuse and transphobia – for someone who isn’t even trans. Sparked by Carini's refusal to shake her hand, the media and the world latched onto the fact that Khelif and a fellow competitor, Lin Yu-ting of Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), were banned by the International Boxing Association (IBA) from taking part in the world championships last year, with the IBA claiming tests proved they did not meet their gender eligibility criteria.

What media reports carelessly (or perhaps strategically), left out is that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) no longer recognizes the Russian-led IBA as a boxing regulator after it failed to implement reforms on governance and finance following its involvement in multiple corruption scandals. In a statement regarding Khelif and Yu-Ting’s eligibility, the IOC said the IBA’s alleged tests lacked credibility, and declared both boxers were fully eligible to compete in Paris 2024 as they were registered female at birth, and are currently categorized as female on their passports.

I hate to say it, but I feel like the IOC tried to take the easy way out here. They threw out their uniform policy on gender issues in November 2021, instead leaving it up to individual sports to make their own policies. Rules however must be based on robust, peer-reviewed scientific research, and competitors must be banned from competing if they gain a consistent, unfair, and disproportionate advantage and/or pose an unpreventable risk to the safety of the athletes.

Former South African middle-distance runner Caster Semenya faced similar scrutiny and abuse in the media during her career. After winning two Olympic gold medals and three World Championships in the women’s 800m she was prevented from competing when new regulations introduced by the IAAF (World Athletics) in 2019 required her to take medication to reduce her testosterone levels. Semenya was born with a rare condition known as differences of sex development or DSD which affects her hormone levels. However, she was assigned female at birth, raised female, and is categorized as female on her passport.

The speculation is that Khelif and Yu-Ting also suffer from this rare DSD condition, which can take on many forms. But as the IOC oversees boxing and not the IAAF, they would not be required to take medication. The condition affects your biology and hormone levels, which many argue significantly enhances their sporting potential, due to increased muscle mass, lung capacity, and strength. But it is difficult for an academic expert or even a boxing aficionado to say with absolute certainty that it gives them an unfair advantage in a sport requiring skill, technique, strategy, and mental toughness.

Before Paris 2024, Imane Khelif was a bang-on-average amateur boxer. Her record was 38-9, with zero draws and five wins via knockout. This is far from a dominant, ass-kicking career if you have only knocked out 5 opponents in almost 40 wins. And in almost 50 fights, there is no record of any of her opponents being severely injured. Even Carini has apologized for her dramatic reaction to the punch she took to the nose in their opening fight of the Olympics, blaming heightened emotions.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Khelif only won two fights to make it to the quarterfinals before being eliminated. Her performances then improved over the years as she gained experience, winning gold medals at the 2022 African Championships, the Mediterranean Games, and the 2023 Arab Games. However, although these are amazing achievements, they are what is expected of an Olympian.

On August 1st Imane Khelif did exactly what boxers are supposed to do. She hit her opponent hard enough that she couldn’t fight back. Does she have some sort of biological advantage that makes it unfair? No one has provided any evidence that she does. And even if she does, isn’t that what the Olympics is all about? Showcasing biological advantages and unmatched athletic gifts?

Is it fair that Simone Biles is 4 feet 8 inches tall but can jump 12 feet in the air during her floor routine? US Swimmer Michael Phelps is 6 feet 4 inches tall, his upper torso is as long as that of someone 6 feet 8 inches tall; while his legs are the length of someone 5 feet 10 inches tall. This unique physique gives him the advantage of unbelievable upper body strength which helps him glide seamlessly through the water. Lebron James is a massive 6 feet 9 inches tall. Although he has exceptional vision, basketball IQ, and all-around skills, there is no doubt his stature has provided a biological advantage in allowing him to bulldoze through opposing defenses through the years. Should we make him play in his own league?

The sports governing bodies need to ensure that there are rules and regulations in place to protect fairness and safety. But how do you protect a fair playing field that is never truly level, because of natural variations among physical attributes? Or an extremely complex, fluid definition of “women.” How do you ensure safety in a sport like boxing that is unsafe by its very nature?

The world is changing at a rapid pace. The strides made in women’s sports have been phenomenal, exemplified by the gender parity competing in Paris 2024. We cannot do away with gender categories, but we also cannot continue to ignore those who are marginalized or abused because they do not fit neatly into a box, including athletes with differences of sex development, transgender men and women, or athletes who onlookers may perceive as “masculine” – in their performance or appearance.

This Summer Olympics has showcased and celebrated the very best that women’s sport and athletics has to offer, and as the Games draw to a close this weekend, Khelif has already secured gold and Yu-Ting fights in her gold medal bout this evening. There is a lot of support for them out there, but there is still a lot of hate and lack of understanding. Worse than that, a lack of willingness to understand.

Let’s hope that by LA 2028 the IOC have come up with a more substantial regulatory system, or even better, a fully inclusive, uniform policy for all sports that allows athletes like Semenya and Khelif to compete without hate or discrimination. Then again, be careful what you wish for.