Algerian gold medallist Imane Khelif has declared she has “nothing to hide” amid a gender-eligibility controversy and vows to defend her title at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Khelif, who won Olympic gold in boxing at the Paris Games, has denied being transgender and says she will not be intimidated by US President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender women from female sports in the US.
Trump referred to Khelif as a male boxer in his speech after signing the order, which denies federal funding to educational institutes allowing trans girls and women to participate in female sports. He also urged the International Olympic Committee to explicitly endorse gender-based participation before the 2028 LA Olympics.
The IOC’s executive board has recommended boxing for inclusion in the 2028 Games. Khelif expressed her determination to retain her title, saying she is even more motivated and determined now than before. She was previously disqualified by the International Boxing Association in 2023 over gender eligibility issues but was cleared to compete in Paris by the IOC.
The debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports has been a key topic in the IOC presidential race, with elections set for Thursday. Khelif hopes the next president will uphold Olympic principles and values of fair play. She believes the controversy surrounding her gender eligibility is a thing of the past and is confident in her ability to defend her title in Los Angeles.
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