Olympic gold medallist Imane Khelif has said she would be willing to undergo a sex test if it allowed her to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Algerian welterweight, who won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has faced sustained scrutiny over her gender eligibility since her success on the Olympic stage.
Khelif was disqualified from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association alongside Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting for allegedly failing gender eligibility tests. However, she was later cleared to compete at the Paris Games by the International Olympic Committee, which stripped the IBA of its recognition in June 2023.
Speaking to CNN, Khelif said she had “nothing to hide” and would comply with any requirements set by the IOC. “Of course, I would accept doing anything I'm required to do to participate in competitions,” she said. “They should protect women, but they need to pay attention that while protecting women, they shouldn't hurt other women.”
The 26-year-old stressed that she has always competed in women’s categories and rejected claims questioning her identity. “I'm not transgender. I'm a woman,” Khelif said. “I want to live my life. Please do not exploit me in your political agendas.” Her comments follow remarks made last year by US President Donald Trump, who referred to her as a “male boxer” after signing an executive order barring transgender women from competing in female sports categories.
Since Paris 2024, the IOC has provisionally recognised World Boxing as the sport’s new international federation. The body has introduced mandatory genetic testing to determine sex at birth, a policy that cited Khelif by name before later issuing an apology. Khelif has appealed the introduction of those tests to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with a hearing still pending as she weighs her path toward Los Angeles 2028.
Image Credit: Sky Sports