JK Rowling has led calls for Olympic boxer Imane Khelif to be stripped of her gold medal after a reportedly leaked medical report appears to indicate the champion is a biological male.
The alleged medical test on Khelif was reportedly conducted at the 2023 World Championships. The news comes shortly after World Boxing ruled that the boxer would need to undergo sex screening to be eligible for any future appearances in female events.
Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, has characterized the revelation as “a win for women.”
“It’s a win for women because they won’t be battered to death in the ring by men,” Rowling wrote on social media. “If you had any idea what physical tests women go through routinely in their lives you’d know a cheek swab is no bigger deal than flossing your teeth. Any more moronic questions, wing them over.”
The 26-year-old Algerian boxer won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics despite controversy surrounding her eligibility. According to the document seen by 3 Wire Sports via Telegraph Sport, the report states: “Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype.”
The results reportedly have a collection date of March 17, 2023 – the same year that Khelif was disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA), the former governing body for the sport, for allegedly failing gender eligibility tests.
Broadcaster Piers Morgan was among the first public figures to respond to reports of the test, writing on social media site X: “The biology-denying woke brigade abused and shamed me for saying it was outrageous and dangerous for Khelif to be beating up women at the Olympics. I’m ready for their apology, but won’t hold my breath.”
Former Olympian Sharron Davies also commented on the report, writing: “When did we stop believing in our eyes & gut! Oh yeah when we decided women’s sport didn’t matter…”
The document claiming to reveal Khelif’s test results reportedly came from Dr Lal PathLabs in New Delhi, a laboratory which is accredited by the American College of Pathologists and certified by the International Organisation for Standardisation.
Khelif has previously strenuously denied claims that she is not a woman and has stated that she planned to defend her gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in three years’ time.
World Boxing, which has been announced to provisionally run testing for the Los Angeles games, has indicated that any person over 18 will be required to undergo PCR testing to determine their sex. The governing body said the PCR test is a laboratory technique used to detect specific genetic material, with the SRY gene revealing the presence of the Y chromosome, which is an indicator of biological sex.
In a letter sent to the Algerian Boxing Federation, World Boxing confirmed that Khelif is unable to compete in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup or any World Boxing event until she undergoes sex testing.
“Imane Khelif may not participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup, 5-10 June 2025 and any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes genetic sex screening in accordance with World Boxing’s rules and testing procedures,” the letter read.
However, questions remain about the authenticity of the leaked report. Jacques Young, an endocrinologist at Bicetre Hospital in Paris who reportedly co-authored the document, has told DW in Germany that he feels his name is being used to spread false information. Young also hinted he had been used to disseminate an anti-trans agenda.
The Algerian Olympic Committee has previously called out “unsubstantiated allegations (which aimed) to tarnish the image of an athlete who has brought honor to our nation on the international stage.”
Former IOC President Thomas Bach had also previously questioned the test’s legitimacy during the Paris Games.
