Imane Khelif banned from World Championships as World Boxing gender scandal devastates French team

Imane Khelif, the Algerian who won women’s welterweight gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has again been stopped from competing. She was barred from the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England, after refusing to undergo new genetic sex tests.

These rules came in May 2025, after the storm over her Olympic win. The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland has already rejected her request to suspend the rule while her appeal is ongoing. At the same time, five French female boxers were also ruled out in Liverpool for missing the same testing deadline.

Imane Khelif challenges World Boxing gender test ruling

Imane Khelif has taken her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). She argues she should be allowed to fight without being forced into a genetic test.

World Boxing has insisted that every female boxer over 18 must take the test to confirm their biological sex.

The ruling body says this is necessary after past controversies. Khelif’s case has become the most high-profile example of the dispute. CAS said on September 1, 2025, that her ban will stay in place until a full hearing is held. Khelif was also excluded from the Eindhoven Box Cup earlier this year. Her lawyers are now preparing more evidence for CAS, but no date has been set for a final hearing.

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French women boxers denied entry over late tests

The French Boxing Federation confirmed that five of their fighters were excluded in Liverpool because they failed to submit test results on time. Since genetic testing has been banned in France since 1994, the team had to rely on a lab in England. Results did not come back fast enough. Federation officials called the outcome “indignation” and a major failure of management. French boxer Maelys Richol said, “After a year of work, we are out not for sporting reasons but unfair handling.” World Boxing defended itself, saying the deadline was sent to all federations on August 21 and that responsibility for testing lies with national bodies.