Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has indicated willingness to undergo sex verification testing if compliance represents the final barrier to participation at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Khelif, champion of the women’s welterweight division at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, has remained at the centre of a prolonged and increasingly politicised debate surrounding gender eligibility in elite boxing.
Scrutiny intensified following disqualification from the 2023 World Championships alongside Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting, after the International Boxing Association cited alleged failures in eligibility testing procedures.
The International Boxing Association lost international standing shortly afterwards, following a decision by the International Olympic Committee to remove official recognition amid governance and integrity concerns.
Clearance to compete in Paris followed under Olympic eligibility criteria, allowing Khelif to proceed to gold without restriction.
In an interview with CNN, Khelif stated acceptance of any testing framework administered by the Olympic authorities, emphasising transparency and eligibility compliance as priorities for continued competition at the highest level.
The Algerian fighter stressed the importance of safeguarding women’s sport while cautioning against collateral harm inflicted on female athletes caught in regulatory crossfire.
Khelif has consistently competed within women’s divisions throughout an international career and has rejected attempts to recast personal circumstances as political symbolism.
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Appeals were made for privacy, dignity and separation from ideological disputes dominating public discourse.
The controversy gained further traction following remarks from Donald Trump, delivered during the signing of an executive order barring transgender women from female sporting categories.
Public references to Khelif during that period intensified global attention and amplified online hostility.
Governance of international boxing entered a transitional phase in February 2025, when World Boxing received provisional Olympic recognition.
Mandatory genetic testing protocols were introduced soon after, designed to establish sex at birth for eligibility purposes.
Initial communications referenced Khelif by name, prompting a formal apology from World Boxing following widespread criticism.
Legal challenge followed. Khelif lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in August, contesting the legality and proportionality of compulsory testing measures.
Proceedings remain ongoing, with a ruling expected to carry significant implications for Olympic boxing ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics.
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