The IBA cited her failure to meet gender eligibility tests, but has not specified the nature of these tests, sparking rumours that Khelif is transgender and biologically male. She has been falsely accused of being transgender, despite living her entire life as a woman and having a long-standing career in women’s boxing. "Many women can have testosterone which is in what would be called 'male levels' and still be women and still compete as women. Van Der Vorst and other members of his organization are in Paris as observers — and, occasionally, recruiters of additional nations to join the only governing body with a chance of keeping boxing in the Olympic program when the IOC decides the sport’s fate in early 2025. The governing body for track and field also last year tightened rules on athletes with differences in sex development. Van Der Vorst still strongly disagrees with critics of the IOC’s handling of the Olympic tournament, specifically the eligibility of women’s boxers Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan. So does boxing really increase your levels of testosterone? During sleep, especially deep sleep, your body works hard to repair muscles and regulate hormones. Well, when you don’t get enough sleep, your testosterone production can take a hit. Without enough rest, your body can’t fully repair or maintain hormonal balance. At the time, the IOC strongly defended the boxer, permitting full Olympic participation. Imane Khelif has spoken on gender in recent years ever since winning gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024 The recent policy update provides a critical moment to examine the exact statements Khelif expressed during the height of the boxing controversy. The landmark ruling resurrects intense global discussions surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Beginning with the Los Angeles 2028 Games, mandatory SRY gene screenings will determine athletic eligibility. "I (think) it's the way she was born & that's out of her control. The fact that she has been (beaten) by 9 females before says it all." "It's just a part of the sport. All you want to do is win, so you just keep chucking punches." Once the lifestyle foundations are solid, certain supplements show evidence for supporting natural testosterone production. Reducing or eliminating alcohol is one of the fastest ways to improve hormone levels. Deficiencies in any of these will suppress your levels. Zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, and healthy fats are all required for testosterone production. Chronic work stress, financial stress, relationship stress — all of it suppresses testosterone over time. Cortisol and testosterone have an inverse relationship — when cortisol stays high, testosterone drops. The study showed that after a bout, a male fighter’s testosterone levels came down, however, their cortisol levels went up. However, weightlifting and muscle growth have been proven to be the most effective way of increasing testosterone levels. Well, nearly any type of exercise will help maintain healthy testosterone levels. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, all three medallists in the women's 800m, including winner Semenya, were DSD athletes, intensifying calls for tighter rules. New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard became the first openly transgender women to compete at an Olympics after being selected for the women's weightlifting team at Tokyo 2020. He said it would include the 2028 Olympics and that he would deny visas for transgender athletes trying to visit the US to compete at the Games. Now, under mounting pressure, sport's most powerful body has embarked on a new approach, and it will be fascinating to see if it now faces any legal challenges. Two-time Olympic women's 800m champion Caster Semenya's DSD means she has male XY chromosomes. This is a rare condition in which a person's hormones, genes and/or reproductive organs may be a mix of male and female characteristics. If they do not offer a convincing performance that meets limited versions of femininity, they may also face surveillance of their gendered bodies, and public attack and online abuse. Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. But it does mean the conversation is legitimate, the problem is real, and understanding what testosterone actually does and how to know if yours is low is worth your time. That doesn’t mean every man who feels tired needs testosterone injections. A man born in 1970 has significantly lower testosterone at 35 than a man born in 1940 had at 35. Testosterone levels in men have been declining for decades. Find the hidden link between sports terms The IOC — which has said that countries that stay loyal to the IBA are risking boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics — has repeatedly defended Khelif and Lin’s inclusion in the Games, saying they meet all eligibility criteria. "I (think) it's the way she was born & that's out of her control." Marissa Williamson Pohlman of Australia, also a fellow boxer, said she did notice that Khelif felt particularly strong, "but you just keep fighting, though, don’t you? It’s just a part of the sport." The IOC stood by Khelif’s inclusion, saying in a statement that did not explicitly name the boxer that "two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA," likely referencing Khelif and Yu-ting. Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting was also disqualified from last year’s World Championships over a disputed gender test. Khelif unanimously defeated Chinese boxer Yang Liu for the gold Friday, after a unanimous decision victory in the women’s 145-pound semifinals Tuesday. By implementing compulsory SRY gene testing via saliva or blood samples, the Olympic committee aims to easily identify the presence of male sex development.