Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has declared her determination to defend her Olympic gold medal, promising 'surprises' in her quest for another podium finish, despite facing stringent new eligibility checks and a potential blanket ban on transgender athletes for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
A Controversial Victory in Paris
Khelif rose to global prominence after winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but her victory was shrouded in controversy. This followed claims that she had allegedly failed a gender eligibility test the previous year. The situation prompted the international boxing body, World Boxing, to confirm that fighters would now be required to undergo mandatory sex screening to compete in their events.
Khelif, who has not competed since these tests were introduced, is now taking her fight outside the ring to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). She is challenging the ruling in a bid to compete without being subjected to the tests.
Navigating a Shifting Regulatory Landscape
The controversy surrounding Khelif coincides with a major potential policy shift from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Under new president Kirsty Coventry, the IOC is in discussions to impose a blanket ban on transgender women competitors for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This adds further uncertainty for athletes with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD).
It is not known for certain whether Khelif is a DSD athlete, and it has been reported that she was born female. The IOC's presentation stressed a distinction between transgender athletes and DSD athletes, who have male chromosomes but were raised as female. While a rule change on DSD athletes is considered likely in the long term, it reportedly faces internal opposition.
Khelif's Defiant Stance and Legal Battle
In reaction to the evolving regulations, Khelif has reiterated her desire to compete. 'Yes, God willing, I am still determined to achieve another Olympic medal,' she stated. 'I am working on many surprises that I have not yet announced, but God willing, we will be on the right track.'
She also addressed the personal toll of the ongoing debate, saying, 'In the Paris Olympics and after, and even now, I am still being subjected to campaigns, injustice, and new decisions from international federations.' Placing her faith in the legal system, she added, 'I currently have a case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and God willing, it will be for the best.'
Khelif was fiercely critical of the new testing mandate, alleging it was personally targeted. 'This law issued by the International Boxing Association was specifically for Imane Khelif and not for athletes,' she claimed. 'They issued this law after the Paris Olympics. Today I am fighting inside and outside the ring, but the law is above all voices, and the decision is fundamentally illogical and contrary to the law.'
The boxer concluded with a message to her critics, asserting her resilience: 'The dream continues, and the work continues, and as for the campaigns and the people who criticize, I say to them, continue, because I am developing.' Her case at CAS will be a critical test for athlete eligibility ahead of the next Olympic cycle.
