Leaked medical report shows Olympic gold-medalist in women’s division has male karyotype

A leaked medical report has triggered renewed scrutiny over Algerian Olympic gold medallist Imane Khelif, allegedly identifying her as biologically male.

The report, said to originate from a New Delhi laboratory, reignites the debate around eligibility in women’s sport, particularly in high-impact disciplines such as boxing.

The document, reportedly dated March 2023, claims Khelif possesses a male karyotype.

It surfaced days after World Boxing mandated that Khelif undergo genetic sex screening before returning to female competitions.

The governing body stated she is barred from participating in events, including the upcoming Eindhoven Box Cup, unless the tests are completed in line with new eligibility standards.

Khelif won gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024, representing Algeria in the women’s boxing category.

Her participation followed a 2023 disqualification by the now-defunct International Boxing Association (IBA) over a failed gender eligibility test.

At the time, questions around the legitimacy of those results were raised by then-International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.

The current report, first circulated by journalist Alan Abrahamson via 3 Wire Sports, claims to originate from Dr Lal PathLabs in India, a facility certified by international and American accreditation bodies.

World Boxing said the testing aligns with its revised “Sex, Age and Weight” policy, introduced in May 2025, designed to protect athlete safety and uphold fair competition in combat sports.

Under the policy, athletes aged 18 or older must undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to determine the presence of the SRY gene — a marker for the Y chromosome.

The governing body explained that, while rule changes are typically approved by Congress, its executive board enacted emergency amendments due to evolving competitive risks.

“These new eligibility rules were developed with the express purpose of safeguarding athletes in combat sports,” the organisation said.

Public figures including broadcaster Piers Morgan, former Olympian Sharron Davies and activist Riley Gaines reacted strongly to the alleged findings, with Morgan calling for an apology from critics of his past comments on the issue.

Meanwhile, Davies lamented a perceived erosion of women’s sport, and Gaines referred to Khelif using male pronouns.

In response to previous accusations, Khelif has firmly denied claims about her gender identity and has continued public appearances following her Olympic triumph.

She has previously declared her intent to defend her title at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

The Algerian Olympic Committee has rejected past reports as “unsubstantiated allegations” designed to damage the reputation of an athlete who “brought honour to our nation.”

Khelif was not the only boxer under scrutiny in Paris. Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting also competed and won despite prior disqualification by the IBA over similar grounds.

World Boxing has reiterated that athletes remain ineligible to compete if their sex certification is challenged and unresolved. The body said it aims to ensure a “safe and competitive playing field” moving forward.