Algerian boxer Imane Khelif secured gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics surrounded by controversy and she has now spoken out once more as planning gets underway for the next games
Boxer Imane Khelif has vowed to undergo all the relevant testing to reach the 2028 Olympics having admitted to undergoing hormone treatment. The Algerian courted controversy in Paris a year-and-a-half ago as she claimed gold amid an ongoing row about her gender.
The IOC confirmed that Khelif had complied with entry regulations for the games. And with World Boxing having now introduced sex testing, the 26-year-old has promised to undergo all of the relevant testing to ensure she makes it to the next games in the USA.
Khelif has also admitted to undergoing hormone treatment before securing gold in France. Speaking to French outlet L’Equipe, she said: “I have female hormones. People don’t know it, but I took hormone treatments to lower my testosterone levels for competitions.
“I am surrounded by doctors, a professor follows me. For the qualifying tournament for the Paris Games, which was taking place in Dakar, I lowered my testosterone level to zero and I won the gold medal.
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“For the next Games, if I have to take a test, I will do it. I have no problem with that. I’ve already done this test.
“I contacted World Boxing, I sent them my medical records, my hormone tests, everything. But I didn’t get any answer. I don’t hide, I don’t refuse tests.”
Khelif was at the heart of criticism during her glory in Paris and in 2024, she filed a criminal complaint over social media comments, with both JK Rowling and Elon Musk among those named. But French law made it impossible for either to be charged for their comments.
“I’m not a trans person I’m a girl,” Khelif has since reiterated. “I was raised as a girl, I grew up as a girl. The people of my village have always known me as a girl.”
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The 2028 Olympics is set to take place in Los Angeles and gets underway on July 14. A major change to boxing has already been confirmed ahead of the games.
In April last year, it was announced that an additional weight class would be added to the women’s competition to bring it in line with the men’s events – meaning that there are now 14 medals events.
Khelif previously competed at welterweight where she beat China’s Yang Liu. And she has already confirmed that she is set to change weight class ahead of the 2028 games.
She said: “With the change in weight classes, I have to compete at 70kg. In Paris, I won at 66 kg, but I don’t think this increase will be difficult for me. I’m 1.80m tall and I’m studying with the team how to best adapt to the new division.”
