In a surprising development that has shocked the sports world, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Boxing jointly announced that controversial Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has been banned from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and must return his gold medal from Paris 2024.

The decision, revealed today in an explosive press release, cites definitive genetic testing confirming Khelif’s biological male status, ending one of the most divisive sagas in Olympic history.

Khelif, who took gold in the women’s 66kg category at the Paris Games last year, became the epicenter of global outrage after videos emerged showing him hitting female opponents with unnatural power.

Italian boxer Angela Carini infamously quit after just 46 seconds in the ring, her face bloodied and streaked with tears as she protested: “This is not right.” The fight sparked accusations of cheating, with critics calling it a blatant example of men invading women’s sports under the guise of “inclusion.”

Even though the International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified Khelif from the 2023 World Championships for failing a gender eligibility test (which revealed XY chromosomes and elevated testosterone levels), the IOC cleared him to compete in Paris, setting off a storm.

High-profile figures like J.K. Rowling, Elon Musk and former Olympian Riley Gaines denounced the decision as “sexist” and “dangerous,” arguing that it endangered female athletes. Rowling tweeted: “A boxer just pulverized a female wrestler. This is what the Olympics have come to.”

Fast forward to today: World Boxing, the new governing body vying to oversee Olympic boxing after the IBA decertification, enforced its mandatory genetic sex testing policy. Khelif, who had been dodging tests and appealing bans from events such as the 2025 World Championships, finally came under scrutiny.

The results? Undeniable proof of male biology: 46,XY karyotype, internal testes and absence of uterus. Sources close to the investigation say the IOC, under mounting pressure from lawsuits and public backlash, had no choice but to act.

“Protecting the integrity of women’s sport is non-negotiable,” said World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst. “Imane Khelif is a biological male and has no place in women’s competitions.

All titles and medals won under false pretenses must be forfeited.” The order requires Khelif to surrender his Paris gold within 30 days, with the medal to be re-awarded to runner-up Yang Liu of China. This is the first time an Olympic boxing medal has been stripped after the ceremony for gender fraud.

The ban extends to all future women’s events, effectively barring Khelif from the 2028 Los Angeles Games unless she competes in the men’s division, a move her side has vehemently rejected. The Algerian Olympic Committee called it a “witch hunt” and promised to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Khelif himself posted a defiant message on Instagram: “I am a woman and I will fight against this injustice.” But fair play supporters are celebrating.

Riley Gaines, who has led campaigns against male participation in women’s sports, exclaimed: “Finally! Justice for every girl who was beaten, displaced or defeated by a man in a skirt.”

This saga is not isolated. Khelif’s case mirrors that of Taiwanese Lin Yu-ting, another DSD (Differences in Sexual Development) athlete who also won gold in Paris amid similar uproar. Both were allowed by the IOC’s lax “passport” rules, which prioritize self-identification over science. But after Paris, the situation changed. World Boxing’s policy (PCR testing for the presence of the SRY gene) has already sidelined several athletes, prompting apologies and appeals, but ultimately upholding biology.

The science behind the scandal

Experts have long warned about DSD cases like Khelif’s, often mislabeled as “intersex” but biologically male. Dr. Emma Hilton, biologist and co-founder of Fair Play for Women, explains: “These people have testicles that produce male-range testosterone, which gives them a huge physical advantage: between 30% and 50% more strength, speed and power than XX women.” Studies from the Journal of Medical Genetics confirm that XY DSD athletes dominate when testosterone is not suppressed, as seen in track star Caster Semenya’s repeated victories before regulations came into effect.

Khelif’s passport lists her as a woman, born and raised as such in conservative Algeria, where transgenderism is illegal. However, leaked medical reports from the 2023 IBA tests showed no ambiguity: male gonads, not female reproductive organs. The IOC rejected them as “arbitrary”, but today’s ruling vindicates the IBA.

• Feminist icons: Martina Navratilova hailed it as “a victory for women around the world.”
• Politicians: U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace called for congressional hearings on Title IX protections.
• LGBTQ+ groups: GLAAD denounced him as “transphobic,” even though Khelif does not identify as trans.
• Athletes: Angela Carini cried: “Now I can heal.”

Algeria’s government has threatened a boycott, but with the 2028 qualifiers around the corner, isolation looms. Meanwhile, female boxers around the world breathe easier knowing that the ring is theirs again.

World Boxing’s policy sets a precedent: there are no men in women’s boxing, period. The IOC, which faces lawsuits from more than 50 affected athletes, can adopt it in its entirety. For Khelif, the options are slim: compete as a man or retire. Her story underscores a hard truth: biology is not bigotry.

This ban is not just about one boxer; It is a firewall for justice. Women’s sports were created to level the playing field; The men who crash the party put an end to that dream. As 2028 approaches, more reforms are expected. The message? Cheat the system, lose the medals.