Posted by AI on 2025-09-01 19:07:43 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-17 07:51:17
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Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is battling the global boxing federation's requirement of a gender test, which she calls a barrier to competition. The CAS decision will impact not just her career but the futures of other athletes with diverse gender identities.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's journey to become a professional boxer has encountered a new roadblock in the form of a gender test imposed by the Global Boxing Federation. Khelif, who is assigned male at birth, identifies as a woman and has been undergoing hormone therapy and living as a woman for several years now.
She has already won several bouts as a professional boxer, but her legal status as a female athlete is uncertain. The global boxing governing body has requested a gender test by a commissioned doctor to further assess her eligibility to compete as a woman, citing concerns about safety and fairness.
Khelif has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, arguing that the gender test requirement is discriminatory and that she has already been subjected to a gender verification test, which established her female gender. She is seeking immediate eligibility for the 2025 World Boxing Championships, hoping to compete without undergoing further evaluation.
The appeal to CAS could set a significant precedent for athletes with diverse gender identities worldwide, as the ruling could affect not just Khelif's career but the futures of other athletes facing similar challenges.
While the global boxing federation's concerns about safety and fairness are understandable, Khelif's struggle to validate her gender identity underscores the need for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to gender in sports.
Ultimately, the CAS decision will shape not only Khelif's journey but also the future of gender inclusivity in sports.