Imane Khelif has publicly reaffirmed her intention to defend her title at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, speaking out amid escalating controversy surrounding gender eligibility rules in boxing and the wider Olympic movement.
The Algerian boxer, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has become one of the most scrutinised athletes in the world, with her competitive status tied up in legal challenges, medical regulations and global debate.
Khelif‘s victory in Paris catapulted her into the centre of a gender-testing storm. Claims emerged that she had allegedly failed a gender eligibility test the previous year, sparking fierce discussion over who should be permitted to compete in women’s boxing.
Those claims have remained a flashpoint, particularly after World Boxing confirmed that all fighters must now undergo mandatory sex screening to compete in their sanctioned events.
The Algerian star has not appeared in competition since the new testing procedures were introduced. Instead, she has taken her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, arguing for the right to compete without undergoing sex verification protocols.
Khelif‘s legal challenge comes at a defining moment, as the International Olympic Committee weighs a major policy overhaul that could see transgender women barred from competing at the 2028 Games and create new uncertainty for athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD).
Khelif vows to return: “The dream continues”
In response to the latest developments surrounding gender testing and the expected IOC shift, Khelif declared that she remains determined to defend her Olympic crown.
Speaking about her future ambitions, she said: “Yes, God willing, I am still determined to achieve another Olympic medal. I am working on many surprises that I have not yet announced, but God willing, we will be on the right track.
“In the Paris Olympics and after, and even now, I am still being subjected to campaigns, injustice, and new decisions from international federations, but I currently have a case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and God willing, it will be for the best.”
Her comments highlight not only her desire to return but also her frustration with what she describes as unjust treatment.
Addressing the criticism she continues to face, Khelif added: “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.”
A major point of contention for Khelif is the mandatory gender-testing rule introduced by World Boxing. She believes the regulation directly targets her, saying: “This law issued by the International Boxing Association was specifically for Iman Khalif and not for athletes. 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.”
Ethical issues for the IOC to navigate
Her stance underscores a broader question now confronting the Olympic movement: how to navigate fairness, inclusion and athlete rights in an era of heightened scrutiny.
The emerging debate comes as newly appointed IOC president Kirsty Coventry oversees discussions that may lead to a blanket ban on transgender women at the Los Angeles Olympics.
This would mark a dramatic shift from the previous policy allowing each sport to set its own eligibility criteria, typically using testosterone thresholds.
An IOC statement issued earlier this week sought to clarify the status of ongoing deliberations, saying: “An update was given by the IOC’s director of health, medicine and science to the IOC Members last week during the IOC commission meetings. The working group is continuing its discussions on this topic and no decisions have been taken yet.”
As LA 2028 approaches, Imane Khelif now finds herself fighting two battles: one for the right to compete and one against the regulations she believes unfairly target her. Her ambitions remain unchanged, but the path to defending her Olympic crown is more complicated than ever.
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