Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif, who found herself at the center of a gender controversy during the Paris Games, is now setting her sights on a second gold medal in Los Angeles. She remains unfazed by Donald Trump’s recent policies, which have sparked further debate on transgender participation in sports.
Last month, the US president signed an executive order preventing transgender women from competing in female sports categories. Trump had previously claimed that the 25-year-old boxer had transitioned from male to female, which Khelif has strongly refuted.
“I will give you a straightforward answer — the US president issued a decision related to transgender policies in America,” she told Britain’s ITV News.
“I am not transgender. This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me. That is my response.”
Meanwhile, Olympic officials recently recommended boxing’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Games following the provisional recognition of a new governing body. The final decision is set to be approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Greece later this week.
“Second gold medal, of course,” said Khelif. “In America, Los Angeles.”
Reflecting on her journey, Khelif believes she has grown stronger through the challenges she has faced.
“This experience has taught me a lot. I believe that if the old Imane operated at 50 percent of her potential, then the Imane Khelif of today is even more motivated and determined.
“I have learned so much from this campaign against me, and what happened at the Paris Olympics was an eye-opening experience. I feel even stronger now than I was before.”
Her victory in Paris, alongside Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, ignited a heated debate on gender eligibility in sports, with public figures like Trump and Elon Musk weighing in.
Khelif admitted that the intense scrutiny took a toll on her mental health, while her family also endured significant distress.
She shared that her mother had to visit the hospital frequently as the controversy unfolded.
Both Khelif and Lin were previously disqualified from the International Boxing Association‘s (IBA) 2023 World Championships after the organization claimed they had failed gender eligibility tests.
The IOC has since severed ties with the IBA due to concerns over governance, finances, and ethics. The IBA, long associated with amateur boxing, is currently led by Kremlin-linked Russian official Umar Kremlev.
Last month, the IOC provisionally recognized World Boxing as the new governing body responsible for overseeing the sport at future Olympic Games.
‘NO FEAR’
“As we say in Algeria, those who have nothing to hide should have no fear,” Khelif told ITV. “The truth became clear at the Paris Olympics — the injustice was exposed and later, the truth was acknowledged by the Olympic Committee in Paris.”
She continued: “For me, I see myself as a girl, just like any other girl. I was born a girl, raised as a girl, and have lived my entire life as one.
“I have competed in many tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics and other major competitions, as well as four world championships.
“All of these took place before I started winning and earning titles. But once I began achieving success, the campaigns against me started.”
The debate surrounding transgender athletes and competitors with differences in sex development (DSD) has become a central topic in the IOC presidential race, which is set to conclude on Thursday.
Leading candidates Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, Sebastian Coe, and Kirsty Coventry have all emphasized the importance of preserving fairness in women’s sports.
World Athletics president Coe told AFP in an interview last year: “If we do not protect women’s sport and we don’t have a clear and unambiguous set of policies to do that, then we run the risk of losing women’s sport.”
Khelif expressed her hope that the next IOC president would uphold the core principles of the Olympic movement.
“I hope the next president of the IOC leads with true sportsmanship, stays committed to Olympic principles, and upholds the values of fair play.”
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