Imane Khelif aims for 2028 Olympics despite gender testing controversy
Olympic gold medallist Imane Khelif has announced her intention to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, despite facing mandatory sex screening requirements introduced by World Boxing, reports BritPanorama.
The Algerian boxer, who secured gold at Paris 2024, has indicated that she possesses undisclosed “surprises” that will facilitate her return to competition.
Khelif has not participated in any boxing events since the implementation of compulsory gender testing protocols and now faces uncertainty regarding her eligibility, as discussions continue about potential restrictions on transgender competitors and those with differences of sexual development at future Olympic Games.
In an escalation of her legal challenge to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Khelif seeks to participate in competitions without undergoing the mandated testing procedures. She claims that the regulations instituted by the International Boxing Association were specifically targeted at her following the Paris Olympics.
“This law issued by the International Boxing Association was specifically for Iman Khelif and not for athletes. They issued this law after the Paris Olympics,” Khelif stated, describing the new requirements as “fundamentally illogical and contrary to the law.” Despite these challenges, she expressed her determination to secure another Olympic medal, asserting, “Yes, God willing, I am still determined to achieve another Olympic medal.”
Khelif hinted at ongoing preparations for unspecified developments, stating, “I am working on many surprises that I have not yet announced, but God willing, we will be on the right track.” She also reflected on the criticism she’s faced: “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.”
The controversy surrounding Khelif’s participation is rooted in her victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics, following her disqualification, along with Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, from the 2023 World Championships due to alleged gender eligibility test failures. The IOC executive committee, which included current president Kirsty Coventry, permitted both athletes to compete in Paris despite their earlier disqualifications.
Currently, the International Olympic Committee is deliberating a significant policy change that could establish a comprehensive prohibition on transgender women across all sports for the Los Angeles Games. The organization has emphasised the distinction between transgender athletes and those with differences of sexual development who possess male chromosomes but were raised as female.
As Khelif gears up for another Olympic venture, the intersections of sport and policy continue to spark heated discussions, serving as a reminder that the arena remains as much about compliance and eligibility as it is about competition and glory.
