A woman with extra testosterone doesn’t have an automatic advantage in boxing, according to Ireland’s leading endocrinologist. 

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif defeated Italy’s Angela Carini in the second round of the women’s welterweight event at the Paris Olympics on Thursday after Ms Carini withdrew after 46 seconds.

Ms Khelif then became the centre of controversy after it emerged she failed an eligibility test by the International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2023.  

The IBA did not administer a testosterone exam but ruled that Ms Khelif had “competitive advantages over other female competitors”. 

On Lunchtime Live today, endocrinologist Professor Donal O'Shea said a higher level of testosterone wouldn’t even give Ms Khelif an advantage. 

“The testosterone levels may be measured as high, but if there aren't any receptors for that to bind onto and act on, then you have none of the effects of the testosterone,” he said. 

“You need to have the receptors that testosterone works on working.” 

He said Ms Khelif, who is biologically female, would not benefit from any extra testosterone, if that is what the IBA ruled was the problem. 

“They're born female, raised female and compete in the female sport,” he said. 

“They've worked hard to get to the point they're at in their sport.” 

Imane Khelif winning the second round of the women's 66kg Olympics boxing. Image: Abaca Press / Alamy Stock Photo

Prof O’Shea said people should not confuse the eligibility criteria drama with transgender participation in sports. 

“That has been dealt with by sporting bodies on a kind of case-by-case basis now internationally with a view to being as inclusive as possible,” he said. 

“But this is a completely different scenario - this is a biological female."

He also pointed out that Ms Khelif has not won every single boxing match she played – including a loss against Irish boxer Kellie Harrington in the 2021 Olympics. 

Olympic boxing

Journal.ie reporter Diarmuid Pepper noted Ms Khelif has competed for her entire career “with no controversy” until now. 

“They've competed in international boxing associations, sanctioned tournaments with no controversy,” he said. 

“From the Olympics' point of view, this was an arbitrary decision and an aggressive decision.” 

International boxer Josefien Betist said biological women should not fight biological men – but this is not the issue at this year’s Olympics. 

“If someone is biological female, but they do have more testosterone, or they do have X, Y chromosomes, it still is biological female,” she said. 

“You’re also devastating [the boxers] by saying things that maybe aren't true... you don't know really what's going on inside our bodies.” 

Ms Khelif will next compete on Saturday in the quarterfinals against Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori.