Sports journalist Alan Abrahamson posted screenshots of alleged test results from 2022 and 2023, conducted at an internationally accredited laboratory in India. According to the leak, Khelif’s DNA showed a “male karyotype,” with XY chromosomes.
Abrahamson wrote that “chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype” and warned: “Unless someone tampers with the evidence, the results are as clear as day.”
British broadcaster Piers Morgan responded to the leak, saying: “The biology-denying woke brigade abused and shamed me for saying it was outrageous and dangerous for Khelif to be beating up women at the Olympics. I’m ready for their apology, but won’t hold my breath.”
Despite the recent developments, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has not confirmed the authenticity of the documents. It did not require Khelif to undergo testing before the 2024 Paris Games, as her passport identifies her as female.
Khelif won Olympic gold in Paris after being reinstated under IOC criteria, despite a prior disqualification by the IBA from the 2023 women’s world championships. The IOC had criticized the IBA’s disqualification as sudden and arbitrary.
Italian boxer Angela Carini protested her Olympic match against Khelif, claiming the Algerian’s punches were dangerously strong. Carini later apologized and said she respected the IOC’s decision.
Experts say biological sex is more complex than commonly understood. Dr. Noam Levitan of the Weizmann Institute of Technology has noted that chromosome variations are rare and may have varying physical impacts. Dr. Nitzan Gonen, head of a sex determination lab at Bar-Ilan University, argued that testosterone levels — not chromosomes — are more relevant to athletic performance, calling for eligibility standards based on hormone thresholds rather than genetic markers.
The IOC and IBA continue to clash over how to define eligibility in women’s sports. While the leaked documents have not been officially verified, they have escalated scrutiny of Khelif’s participation and are likely to intensify the ongoing debate over fairness and inclusion in competitive athletics.
