Imane Khelif Willing to Undergo Genetic Testing in Bid to Compete in 2028 Olympics “I’m a Woman… Nothing to Hide”
- Matthew Brown
- 45 minutes ago
- 4 min read
02/20/2026
Imane Khelif is pushing back against critics and political figures who have questioned her identity and eligibility, making it clear she is prepared to undergo genetic testing in order to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games.
The Algerian gold medalist found herself at the center of controversy after a viral social media video cast doubt over the women’s boxing tournament at the Paris Games. The clip showed two fighters in the ring with a caption that read “Beating women is now a spectator sport. We have never been more aware as a society of male violence against women. Why are the Olympics allowing this male to enter the boxing ring with a woman?”
The fighter referenced was Khelif. She had previously been removed from competition and stripped of medals at the 2023 International Boxing Association World Championships after allegedly failing gender eligibility tests administered by the International Boxing Association. However, she was later cleared to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics under the authority of the International Olympic Committee.
The IOC had expelled the IBA from its membership and stripped it of recognition in 2023. That decision was upheld on appeal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2024.
Confusion initially stemmed from remarks made by IBA president Umar Kremlev, who claimed that DNA tests had identified athletes with XY chromosomes attempting to compete as women. Yet the testing protocols used by the IBA focused on testosterone levels. Medical experts have widely criticized testosterone testing as a definitive measure of gender, noting that hormone levels vary significantly among both men and women and that such policies have disproportionately affected women from Africa and Asia. The most recent IBA protocols would have required affected athletes to take testosterone blockers, which both women declined. Khelif told CNN that the report about her case was inaccurate and “modified.”
IOC spokesman Mark Adams defended the organization’s position at the time, stating that the athletes were eligible under federation rules established in 2016 and used for the Tokyo Games. “To compete as women, which is what they are. And we fully support that,” he said.
Khelif went on to win Olympic gold in Paris. Yet her triumph did not quiet the debate. Instead, it intensified it. During her run to the top of the podium, she became a lightning rod in a global culture war fueled by false accusations about her gender.
Since her victory, Khelif says she has endured a sustained campaign of abuse and invasive scrutiny. Among those repeatedly invoking her name is US President Donald Trump, who cited her Olympic performance while advocating for restrictions on certain athletes. In one of his first acts in office, Trump signed an executive order titled Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports. In a January speech to Republican lawmakers, he again referred to Khelif incorrectly as a male boxer while signaling support for anticipated Supreme Court backing of state level bans on transgender athletes in girls and women’s sports.
Khelif insists she has been drawn unwillingly into political battles far beyond her control.
“I’m not transgender. I’m a woman. I want to live my life… Please do not exploit me in your political agendas,” she told CNN in a wide ranging interview.
For months she remained largely silent, choosing to protect her peace. But the continued public attacks prompted her to speak out.
Her return to the ring in 2025 was supposed to come at the eighth edition of the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands from June 5 to June 10. It would have marked her first major international appearance since her Olympic triumph. She planned to defend her 145 pound title, which she won in 2024 with a commanding victory over Marissa Williamson.
Those plans unraveled after World Boxing announced it would institute genetic testing for its 2025 championship tournament. In its initial statement, the organization mentioned Khelif by name and said she would be barred from competition if she did not submit to testing. Though World Boxing later apologized, Khelif said the damage was done and that far right activists influenced the statement. She has filed a complaint with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“When they published my name, they caused another crisis for me. They caused more discourse and another campaign against me,” she said.
Despite the turmoil, she remains resolute.
“I will not surrender until I have justice because I know justice is on my side above all else.”
Khelif acknowledges the psychological toll has been heavy. She continues to work with a therapist and says the trauma extended to her family.
“What happened during the Olympics caused me psychological trauma, for me, and for my family… But I am still here. I am still fighting. I am still boxing.”
The debate over eligibility in women’s sports is expected to shape future IOC policy. New IOC president Kirsty Coventry has emphasized protecting the female category and has not ruled out stricter biological guidelines, including the possibility of renewed genetic testing, a practice the IOC abandoned nearly three decades ago and once described as deeply problematic.
Khelif says she has nothing to hide and would comply with any new requirements in her pursuit of the 2028 Games.
“Of course, I would accept doing anything I’m required to do to participate in competitions,” she said, stressing her respect for the IOC and its authority. “They should protect women, but they need to pay attention that while protecting women, they shouldn’t hurt other women.”
She has never publicly identified herself as a DSD athlete. She does acknowledge naturally high testosterone levels and says she manages them under medical supervision.
“I was born like this. Of course, I have hormonal differences. But I decrease my testosterone levels based on my doctor’s recommendations,” she said. “Boxing does not rely on the level of testosterone. Boxing relies on intelligence, on experience and on discipline.”
As she looks toward 2028, her message is simple and direct. She is a woman, an Olympic champion, and a fighter in every sense of the word.
Ultimately, she believes the issue extends far beyond her personal case.
“It is bigger than me,” Khelif said. “When you have the courage to face the world with your truth, it is an accomplishment.”
Subscribe to the Brunch Boxing website, Twitter and Podcast for more updates and in-depth coverage of the world of boxing in and out of the ring.
Brunch Boxing Support Links: