The Algerian boxer Imaë Khelif was disqualified by the competitions of the 2025 women’s world boxing championship after a DNA test, apparently ordered by the billionaire Elon Musk, revealed the presence of XY chromosomes. The International Boxing Federation (IBA) has established that Khelif, who has played for years in women’s boxing, will no longer be able to compete in the female category.
The shocking revelation has rekindled heated debates on equity, biological benefits and the role of public figures in influencing sports policies.
The role of Elon Musk in the dispute
The controversy broke out after Musk, CEO of Tesla and Spacex, used his X platform (previously Twitter) to question the suitability of Khelif to compete in women’s boxing. Citing the biological differences, Musk urged IBA to conduct a DNA test on Khelif, claiming that “loyal competition in women’s sport must be protected”.
Following its declaration, IBA conducted an official verification, which led to the execution of genetic tests that confirmed that Khelif has XY chromosomes. This decision entailed its immediate disqualification, as officials said that its genetic kit “offers a considerable advantage over the other competitors”.
Khelif’s reaction: “I am devastated
“. The decision left shocked and devastated Khelif. In a statement to the Algerian press, he expressed his regret for what happened.
“I have always identified myself as a woman. I trained, I competed and worked as a woman. This is the right decision, and I feel as if my entire career had been canceled in an instant,” said Khelif.
It is said that his legal team is evaluating the possibility of appeal against the decision, calling it “a direct attack on his identity and athlete rights”.
Political reactions and debate
The decision unleashed a world storm, with pressure groups, politicians and sports analysts divided on the matter.
LGBTQ+ organizations and women’s rights groups condemned the decision, accusing the IBA of giving in to external pressure and violating the rights of Khelif.
“This creates a dangerous precedent, as a billionaires like Elon Musk can put pressure on sports organizations so that they make decisions based on ideology instead of science,” said a spokesman for a European group for human rights.
On the other hand, some athletes and sports managers praised the decision, claiming that he preserves the integrity of women’s sport.
Former boxing champion Claressa Shields commented on her words, affirming: “Equity is important. We trained our life to compete with equal arms. This regulation protects it”.
Imaë Khelif
While the debate continues, Khelif’s future in boxing remains uncertain. IBA has not yet communicated if he will be able to compete in another category, thus interrupting his sporting career. In the meantime, Elon Musk’s involvement in the controversy is feeding heated debates on the role of the billionaires of technology in the governance of global sport.
With the approach of the world championships of female boxing of 2025, one thing is clear: this decision will have lasting implications for the future of women’s athletics and for the current debate on genre in competitive sports.
