Algerian boxing star and Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif is now facing increased scrutiny after a recent report brought new details about her medical condition to light.
According to documents accessed by French journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia, Khelif has been diagnosed with 5-alpha reductase deficiency—a condition affecting sexual development, typically seen in individuals with XY chromosomes.
The report, prepared jointly by Paris’s Kremlin-Bicêtre Hospital and Algiers’s Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Hospital in mid-2023, includes MRI results indicating Khelif has internal testicles and lacks a uterus.
The findings describe physical characteristics that can appear ambiguous at birth, such as an enlarged clitoris, sometimes referred to as a “micropenis.”
Further testing confirmed that Imane Khelif has an XY chromosomal pattern, with testosterone levels in line with typical male ranges. The report also noted the possibility of consanguinity among her parents.
Medical experts have recommended that Khelif undergo further evaluations, including surgical intervention, hormone therapy, and psychological support, to address her condition.
5-alpha reductase deficiency impacts sexual development from birth through puberty, often leading those with the condition to be assigned female at birth due to atypical genital appearance.
