Imane Khelif has spoken out ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as she vowed to comply with any genetic testing requirements amid questions about her gender.
In 2024, Khelif made headlines across the globe after Angela Carini exited the ring less than a minute after the fight started, after her headwear became dislodged twice.
Carini also experienced severe pain in her nose in that short amount of time and feared that Khelif had broken it.
After the Olympic match, it was claimed that Khelif, who hails from Algeria, failed an unspecified gender eligibility test in 2023 because of elevated levels of testosterone.
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She'd failed due to the International Boxing Association (IBA) eligibility rules preventing athletes with XY chromosomes from competing in women’s events, Reuters reported at the time.
Questions were then raised about her gender, and suggestions were made that Khelif was transgender, but she has always insisted that her biological sex from birth is female.
Despite the controversy at the time, Khelif went on to prove successful at the Paris Olympics, winning gold for her country.
Khelif is expected to return to the ring again for the Los Angeles Olympics in two years' time and shared a message to President Trump, who has previously described Khelif as a 'male boxer'.
"Please do not exploit me in your political agenda," she told CNN, adding that it was 'really hurtful to hear a president of a country talking about you like this'.
Khelif also said: "I want to clarify to all the people, to the president, and to all the politicians who are exploiting my image as if I'm transgender that I have nothing to do with transgender. I'm just an athlete. My dream is to play sports."
Elsewhere, the 26-year-old boxer discussed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) introducing genetic testing to its eligibility policies.
As Khelif said she has 'nothing to hide', she said she'll do the testing if necessary — but only if the IOC conducts it.
"Of course, I would accept doing anything I’m required to do to participate in competitions," the boxer shared.
"They should protect women, but they need to pay attention that while protecting women, they shouldn’t hurt other women," Khelif added.
Genetic testing hadn't been part of the IOC's rules for 30 years, but the idea of bringing it back was put forward by new IOC president Kirsty Coventry last year.
Since then, World Boxing, which will oversee boxing competitions at the upcoming LA Olympics, has announced mandatory sex testing for all boxers in its competitions.
Topics: Imane Khelif, Boxing, Olympics, Donald Trump, Sport
Niamh Shackleton