Imane Khelif is ready for gender verification as she prepares to compete in the 2028 Olympics in the United States.
On 5 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif said she is willing to undergo gender verification if it means she can compete in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Khelif delivered an outstanding performance, winning the women's welterweight gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but afterward faced scrutiny regarding her gender eligibility.
Back in 2023, she and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from the World Championship by the International Boxing Association (IBA) amid allegations of failing gender eligibility tests.
However, Khelif was permitted to compete at the Paris Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had withdrawn recognition of the IBA in June 2023.
Khelif told CNN last Wednesday that she “has nothing to hide” and is ready to comply with any testing requirements if conducted by the IOC.
“Of course, I accept doing whatever is necessary to be able to participate in the competition.”
“They should protect women, but at the same time, they must ensure that protecting women does not harm other women.”
The 26-year-old Khelif has always competed in women's categories, affirming that she is not a transgender athlete but a woman.
Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump referred to Khelif as a “male boxer” after signing an executive order banning transgender women from competing in women's sports.
In February 2025, World Boxing, provisionally recognized by the IOC as the international governing body for amateur boxing, announced mandatory genetic testing to confirm athletes' biological sex and eligibility to compete.