Olympic Boxer Imane Khelif Admits to Male Genes, Denies Being Transgender

Khelif claims to be a natural woman despite having the SRY gene typically found in men.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif has admitted to having the SRY gene, which is found on the Y chromosome and typically only present in men. However, Khelif maintains that she is a natural woman and not transgender, claiming to have female hormones and lowering her testosterone levels for competitions. Khelif says she is willing to undergo further testing and has already provided medical records to sports governing bodies.

Why it matters

Khelif's case highlights the ongoing debate around transgender and intersex athletes competing in women's sports. Her admission of having the SRY gene, typically associated with males, raises questions about fairness and the criteria for determining eligibility in women's competitions.

The details

Khelif won gold in the 66kg boxing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but was later reported by multiple sources to be biologically male. After denying these claims for over a year, Khelif has now admitted to having the SRY gene, which is found on the Y chromosome. However, she maintains that she is a natural woman with female hormones and has taken steps to lower her testosterone levels for competitions. Khelif says she is willing to undergo further testing and has already provided her medical records to sports governing bodies.

  • Khelif won gold in the 66kg boxing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
  • In 2025, reports surfaced that Khelif was biologically male.
  • Over a year later, in 2026, Khelif has admitted to having the SRY gene.

The players

Imane Khelif

An Olympic gold medalist boxer who has admitted to having the SRY gene, typically found in males, but claims to be a natural woman.

World Athletics

The international governing body for the sport of athletics, which has announced it will introduce mandatory gene testing for athletes wanting to compete in the women's category.

World Boxing Organization (WBO)

The international boxing organization that will also begin testing for the SRY gene moving forward.

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What they’re saying

“He cannot twist the truth. I'm not trans; I'm a girl. I was raised as a girl.”

— Imane Khelif, Olympic Boxer (theblaze.com)

“Yes, and it's natural. I have female hormones. And people don't know it, but I've already lowered my testosterone levels for competitions.”

— Imane Khelif, Olympic Boxer (L'Équipe)

What’s next

Both World Athletics and the WBO will begin testing for the SRY gene in order to determine eligibility for women's competitions moving forward.

The takeaway

Khelif's case highlights the complex and evolving nature of determining eligibility for transgender and intersex athletes in women's sports. Her admission of having the SRY gene, while claiming to be a natural woman, raises questions about fairness and the criteria used by sports governing bodies to ensure a level playing field.