Khelif Ready For Sex Test To Compete At 2028 Olympics

 Imane Khelif

 

Algerian Olympic champion Imane Khelif has stated she is prepared to undergo a sex verification test if it is required for her to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, insisting she has nothing to conceal amid ongoing debate over eligibility rules in women’s boxing.

Khelif, who won gold in the women’s welterweight division at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has remained under public scrutiny following a gender eligibility dispute that first emerged in 2023.

That year, both Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from the World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which claimed they did not meet its gender eligibility criteria.

Despite that ruling, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cleared Khelif to compete in Paris after it withdrew recognition of the IBA as boxing’s governing body in June 2023, allowing her to participate and ultimately win Olympic gold.

Speaking to CNN, Khelif said she would cooperate fully with any eligibility procedures overseen by the IOC. She stressed that safeguards in women’s sport must be applied fairly and without causing harm to athletes who are eligible.

Khelif also addressed speculation surrounding her identity, firmly rejecting claims that she is transgender and calling for her story not to be used to advance political arguments. She emphasized that she has always competed in women’s categories throughout her career.

The issue resurfaced in political debate after US President Donald Trump previously referred to Khelif as a male boxer while discussing an executive order barring transgender women from competing in female sports categories.

Meanwhile, World Boxing — a newly formed international federation granted provisional IOC recognition in 2025 — has introduced mandatory genetic sex-at-birth testing for athletes seeking eligibility. The body initially referenced Khelif while announcing the measure and later issued an apology.

Khelif has challenged the policy at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with a hearing on the matter still pending.

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