Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has taken her battle against mandatory genetic testing to international arbitration. She has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to compete in World Boxing events without undergoing chromosome analysis.
The Olympic gold medalist’s legal challenge centers on World Boxing’s new policy requiring all athletes over 18 to undergo genetic sex testing before participating in sanctioned competitions. According to the CAS media release, Khelif filed her appeal on August 5, 2025, seeking to overturn World Boxing’s decision that prevented her from competing “in the Box Cup in Eindhoven, nor in any World Boxing event until she had undergone genetic sex testing.”
The timing of the appeal proved critical, as Khelif specifically requested eligibility for the 2025 World Boxing Championships scheduled from September 4-14. However, CAS denied her request for an emergency suspension of World Boxing’s decision on September 1, meaning the genetic testing requirement remains in place while the case proceeds.
Khelif’s legal action represents the latest chapter in an ongoing controversy that gained international attention during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Algerian boxer, who reportedly has a difference of sex development and XY chromosomes, captured gold in women’s boxing amid intense scrutiny and debate over athlete eligibility in women’s sports.
The dispute intensified when World Boxing implemented its comprehensive testing policy, requiring a “once-in-a-lifetime, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test or a functional medical equivalent test to determine their genetic sex.” The governing body stated this measure ensures only males compete in men’s categories and only females in women’s categories.
Recent retirement speculation surrounding Khelif emerged after her former manager, Nasser Yesfah, claimed in an interview that the Olympic champion had “left the world of boxing.” However, Khelif swiftly dismissed these reports through a Facebook statement, declaring that Yesfah “no longer represents me in any way” and had “betrayed the trust and betrayed the country with his false and purposeful statements.”
“I have never announced my retirement from boxing, but I am still committed to my sport career, I train regularly and maintain my fitness between Algeria and Qatar, in preparation for the upcoming merits,” Khelif wrote. She emphasized that “such rumors are spreading only to disrupt and insult my athletic and professional career.”
The boxer reaffirmed her dedication to the sport, stating: “I will always remain loyal to the sport of boxing and my homeland Algeria, and this false news will not deter me from continuing to defend and honor the colors of my country in international concerts.”
Khelif’s absence from the Eindhoven Box Cup in June, where she was scheduled to defend her title, marked the first visible impact of World Boxing’s new testing requirements. The organization’s president, Boris van der Vorst, later issued an apology for specifically naming Khelif in their initial announcement about mandatory sex testing.
The CAS case remains confidential as both parties exchange written submissions. A hearing will be scheduled with mutual agreement from the involved parties, though no timeline has been established for a final resolution.
