Imane Khelif’s Olympic victory in 2024 sparked a gender debate that has been ongoing ever since. Now the World Boxing Association is demanding gender tests from its athletes. Will this solve the Imane Khelif case?
Does this end the controversy, the gender debate in Olympic boxing? Perhaps. The World Boxing (WB) association, which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), recently published its “Sex, Age and Weight” guidelines. Rules on sex, age and weight for participation in competitions. The centerpiece: a mandatory gender test. It is a kind of “Lex Imane Khelif”. Or: How should trans, inter and non-binary people (TIN people) be dealt with in Olympic boxing? Now and in general.
“I am a strong woman”
Flashback: It’s a triumph with a dance interlude. Imane Khelif pulls her knees up hip-high in rapid succession and aims them rhythmically forward with her outstretched index fingers. A jubilant dance around her own axis. In the ring with the robust vinyl tarpaulin on the Philippe Chatrier court at Stade Roland Garros. At the final act of the boxing tournament at the Summer Olympics in Paris last August. It was the final fight of the then 25-year-old welterweight from Algeria. At least in the five rings. A smooth 5:0 points victory against the Chinese world champion Yang Liu. In front of 15,000 spectators – the atmosphere was frenetic, electric, emotional. Khelif after her Olympic victory: “I want to say to everyone who was against me and started a campaign against me: This is my answer, I am a strong woman.” Strong, yes; woman too?
Khelif in the leading role
Before and especially during matches, the gender debate escalated …
Text by Oliver Rast
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