Olympics 2024: The Battle of X and Y - What is Failed Gender Test? Imane Khelif not the only one in Paris

The Olympics 2024 has been ravaged by gender disputes as Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has been the subject of criticism and social humiliation.

Imane Khelif won her bout against Italy's Angela Carini in the 66-kg category in just 46 seconds. Carini actually decided to abandon her match in order to protect herself and her crying visuals have gone viral since.

But Imane Khelif has found herself amid the wrath of social media due to her 'Gender Controversy'. It was reported that the Algerian was banned from the World Boxing Championships in 2023 as she failed a gender test. However, the Olympic committee decided to allow Khelif to take part despite the issue.

Mark Adams, a spokesperson of IOC said that Khelif was allowed because she had 'Female' written in her passport.

"Everyone competing in the women's category is complying with the competition eligibility rules. They are women in their passports, and it's stated that this is the case, that they are female," Adams said to media.

What is a Failed Gender Test?

The failed Gender Test means the non-ability to prove one's sexuality - whether one is a Man or a Woman or another gender. In humans, the sexuality is determined by two sexual chromosomes.

How is a Gender determined?

Chromosomes are the ones which carry the DNA, the developmental unit of an organism. In humans, there are 46 chromosomes in each cell of the body, which comprises 44 Autosomes and 2 Sex Chromosomes (X and Y).

In Females, the 44 autosomes are accompanied with 2 X sex chromosomes. Hence, the chromosomal configuration of a human female is 44A + 2X (A for Autosomes, 2X means two X chromosomes).

In Males, the 44 autosomes are accompanied with 1 X and 1 Y chromosome. Hence, the chromosomal abbreviation of a human male is 44A + XY.

What happened in the case of Imane Khelif?

As per claims, Imane was denied entry in the Boxing Championships as XY chromosomes were determined in Khelif's sample. Due to the presence of Y chromosome, which carries Male characters, one with it can have unfair advantages regarding power, agility and movement as well as muscle and bone structure.

IBA President Umar Kremlev said, "Based on DNA tests, we identified a number of athletes who tried to trick their colleagues into posing as women. According to the results of the tests, it was proved that they have XY chromosomes. Such athletes were excluded from competition."

Khelif said it was mostly a conspiracy against Algeria as many nations didn't want them to win Gold.

Khelif not the 'Only One' with failed Gender Test

As Khelif has been participating in the Olympics, she is not the only one who failed the gender test before.

Chinese Taipei boxer Lin Yu-Ting is another athlete who failed the Gender test in the past but has been allowed to take part in the Olympics.

The IOC's Paris 2024 Boxing Unit oversees the event with more relaxed rules compared to the IBA. The IOC mentioned that they used the Tokyo 2020 boxing rules as a baseline for their regulations to ensure consistency and minimal impact on athletes' preparation.

The IOC's internal system acknowledges that both boxers failed gender eligibility tests last year. Khelif was banned due to elevated testosterone levels and a failed gender test. Lin lost her bronze medal after failing a biochemical test.