Imane Khelif launches CAS appeal after boxing ban as target date for return set

Imane Khelif has launched an appeal with the CAS after she was banned from competing as she targets a boxing return.

The Algerian boxer made headlines around the world during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where she won gold in the women's 66kg event. She dominated the competition, notably defeating Italy's Angela Carini in just 46 seconds during an early bout.

Her involvement forced the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to issue several statements on her eligibility amid question marks regarding her gender. A year before the Games, Khelif and Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting, allegedly failed the International Boxing Association's (IBA) gender eligibility guidelines.

The IOC, which had stripped the IBA of its role as boxing's amateur global governing body, allowed her to compete in Paris. Now, World Boxing has banned her from competing in all events, unless she undergoes genetic testing to provide proof that she is a biological woman.

Imane Khelif. Image: Richard Pelham / Stringer via Getty

Khelif has refused to undergo the test in the past nine months.

Now, Khelif has filed an appeal against World Boxing's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is an international body designed to settle disputes in sport.

The statement read: "The appeal, filed on 5 August 2025, seeks to overturn a decision by World Boxing that Imane Khelif was now allowed to participate in the Box Cup in Eindhoven, nor in any World Boxing event until she had undergone genetic sex testing.

"The appeal also requested that CAS declare Imane Khelif eligible to participate in the 2025 World Boxing Championships from 4 to 14 September without a test.

"On 1 September 2025, CAS dismissed a request to suspend the execution of the decision by World Boxing until the case is heard."

The statement by CAS confirms that Khelif will be unable to compete at the upcoming World Championships in Liverpool.

Imane Khelif. Image: Richard Pelham / Stringer via Getty

What has Imane Khelif said about her boxing ban?

Khelif has not spoken publicly about World Boxing's decision to ban her from the sport.

On 3 June, which is the Global Day of Parents, she posted on Instagram to thank her parents for their support

And she took to social media to share greetings on Eid Mubarak.

At the end of June, she posted a selfie on her Instagram story with the caption: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

The story also included part of Sia's song 'I'm still here' which could be seen as an act of defiance against her ban

For now, it remains unclear when Khelif will be able to return to the boxing ring.