Olympic Authority Inquires for Imane Khelif to Reinstate Gold Medal due to Gender Debate
In a recent development, the International Boxing Association (IBA) has officially called on Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to return the Olympic gold medal she won in women's boxing at the 2024 Paris Games. The demand comes following revelations that Khelif allegedly failed a gender eligibility test, with leaked medical results suggesting Khelif has a male karyotype, which led the IBA to bar her from competing in the 2023 World Championships female division.
Umar Kremlev, IBA president, has been vocally critical, stating that the medal should be returned because it was won unfairly and emphasizing the need to protect female athletes and ensure a level playing field. He accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of political bias and failure to uphold fairness by allowing Khelif to keep the medal despite these "abnormal" test results. Kremlev is pressing the IOC to revoke the gold medal and award it to the rightful female champion.
However, it should be noted that the IBA or Kremlev do not have the authority to force Khelif to return the medal, but they are strongly making their position known.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), on the other hand, has not yet taken any public action regarding the matter. The IOC has been under scrutiny in the past, with notable examples such as the Russian doping scandals, raising questions about its role as a governing body.
In a livestreamed meeting, the new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, stated that the IOC should take a leading role in addressing transgender athletes in female categories. Coventry acknowledged that there will be differences depending on the sports, but stressed that the IOC should prioritize the protection of the female category. Coventry emphasized the importance of protecting female athletes moving forward.
Imane Khelif, who defeated Yang Liu of China to win gold in women's boxing in 2024, has yet to comment publicly on the IBA's demand. The IOC's position on the matter remains unclear, and no final resolution or official IOC decision on medal revocation and Khelif returning the medal has been reported as of early July 2025.
In light of these events, the IBA and Kremlev are calling for action to be taken, with Kremlev stating that the medal should be returned to a "real woman." The IOC, in response, should bring together experts and international federations to find consensus on the matter and ensure the fairness and integrity of women's sports.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) and its president, Umar Kremlev, are urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider the Olympic gold medal won by Imane Khelif in women's boxing at the 2024 Paris Games, as they believe it was unfairly won due to a gender eligibility issue. Kremlev has criticized the IOC for political bias and failure to uphold fairness, suggesting the medal should be returned to the rightful female champion, emphasizing the need to protect female athletes and ensure a level playing field in sports.
