Khelif willing to take sex test for 2028 Olympics

Published on February 5, 2026 by Brainx Editorial

“I Will Not Surrender”: Imane Khelif Agrees to IOC Sex Test for 2028 as Trump & World Boxing Tighten Rules

At Brainx, we believe…

The saga of Imane Khelif has ceased to be merely about boxing; it has become the global ground zero for the collision between scientific ethics, political populism, and athletic dignity. At Brainx, we believe this development highlights a disturbing shift where the bodies of female athletes are treated as political battlegrounds. While fairness in sport is paramount, the weaponization of genetic outliers—conflating biological anomalies with gender identity—threatens to unravel the very spirit of the Olympic movement. Khelif’s defiance is not just a defense of her title, but a stand for the right to exist without being reduced to a chromosomal data point.

The News: A Champion Cornered by Biology and Politics

In a defiant move that could reshape the future of women’s combat sports, Algerian Olympic champion Imane Khelif has announced she is willing to undergo a sex verification test to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. However, her compliance comes with a strict condition: the testing must be administered solely by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), not the rival bodies she accuses of political persecution.

Speaking to CNN on Wednesday, the 26-year-old gold medalist broke her silence on the intensifying scrutiny surrounding her gender eligibility, a controversy that has dogged her since her triumph in Paris 2024.

The Ultimatum: “I Have Nothing to Hide”

Khelif’s statement marks a pivot from her previous silence on medical specifics. She explicitly stated she would comply with the IOC’s requirements, provided they are conducted with dignity and independence.

The Quote: “Of course, I would accept doing anything I’m required to do to participate in competitions,” Khelif told CNN. “They should protect women, but they need to pay attention that while protecting women, they shouldn’t hurt other women.”
The Distinction: Khelif reiterated a crucial fact often lost in the media firestorm: “I am not transgender. I am a woman.” She pleaded with global leaders to stop using her name to fuel culture wars: “I want to live my life. Please do not exploit me in your political agendas.”

The New Rules: World Boxing’s “SRY” Standard

The pressure on Khelif stems from a radical shift in governance. World Boxing, a new body granted provisional recognition by the IOC in February 2025 to replace the disgraced International Boxing Association (IBA), has introduced one of the strictest eligibility policies in sports history.

Mandatory Genetic Testing: The new rules require every athlete (initially women, and men from 2026) to undergo a PCR test or functional equivalent.
The Target: The test specifically hunts for the SRY gene, which triggers male development and indicates the presence of a Y chromosome.
The Consequence: Any female athlete found to carry the SRY gene or Y chromosome material—regardless of their testosterone levels or lived gender—is barred from the female category. This rule directly challenges the IOC’s previous “testosterone-based” frameworks.
The Legal Battle: Khelif lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) in August 2025, arguing that World Boxing’s mandatory genetic testing violates human rights and privacy laws. The hearing is still pending, leaving her Olympic future in limbo.

The “Male Boxer” Narrative: Trump’s Executive Order

The controversy has been inflamed by the highest levels of American politics. US President Donald Trump, who has made “protecting women’s sports” a central plank of his administration, has frequently targeted Khelif.

The Attack: President Trump has publicly referred to Khelif as a “male boxer,” conflating her condition (suspected Differences in Sex Development, or DSD) with being transgender.
The Legislation: In February 2025, Trump signed the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” Executive Order, which mandates that sex be defined strictly by “immutable biological classification” at birth. While US law does not govern the IOC, the upcoming 2028 Games in Los Angeles places the event directly under the shadow of US federal policy, potentially creating a diplomatic nightmare for athletes like Khelif.

The Backstory: A War of Federations

To understand Khelif’s mistrust of testing bodies, one must look at the chaotic history of boxing governance:

The IBA Disqualification (2023): Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting were abruptly disqualified from the World Championships by the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA). The IBA claimed they failed gender tests but refused to publish the methodology or results, leading to accusations of corruption and lack of due process.
The IOC’s Defense: The IOC stripped the IBA of recognition in June 2023 due to governance issues and Russian ties. In Paris 2024, the IOC defended Khelif, stating she was born female, raised female, and had a passport identifying her as female.
The Shift: With World Boxing now taking the reins to save the sport from Olympic exclusion, they have pivoted back to strict chromosomal testing to distance themselves from the IOC’s perceived “leniency,” putting Khelif in the crosshairs once again.

Deep Dive: The Science of the Controversy

(Analysis for Brainx Ultimate Readers)

The core of this dispute lies in the difference between Transgender and DSD (Differences in Sex Development).

Transgender women are assigned male at birth and transition. Khelif does not fit this category.
DSD athletes (like Caster Semenya) are born with ambiguous biological traits. They may have XY chromosomes (typically male) but female genitalia, or their bodies may not process testosterone (Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome).
The Conflict: World Boxing’s new rule (“No Y chromosome in the female category”) is a “bright line” standard that excludes XY DSD athletes regardless of their physical advantage. The IOC has historically preferred a more nuanced approach, focusing on testosterone levels. Khelif’s willingness to test with the IOC suggests she believes she can pass their standard, or she challenges the validity of a purely chromosomal definition of womanhood.

Why It Matters

This story matters because it will set the legal and ethical precedent for the next decade of international sport. For the common man—and the parents of aspiring athletes—it raises a fundamental question: Who gets to play? If World Boxing’s genetic strictness prevails, we may see a future where every female athlete is forced to undergo DNA screening to prove her womanhood, a practice critics call invasive and dystopian. Conversely, if the rules remain loose, the debate over fairness and biological advantage will continue to tear the sporting world apart. Khelif is no longer just a boxer; she is the test case for the future of human biology in sport.

How mandatory sex testing for women boxers at 2026 World Championships impacts Imane Khelif?

This video provides essential context on the specific “mandatory sex testing” rules introduced by World Boxing for the 2026 Championships, which directly precipitated Khelif’s current legal battle and her conditional offer to the IOC.