“I Am a Woman” – Imane Khelif Opens Up on Donald Trump, Testing, and 2028 Olympic Return
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has sent a message to US President Donald Trump and other critics, declaring she is willing to undergo sex testing by the International Olympic Committee if that allows her to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Imane Khelif Addresses Donald Trump, Confirms 2028 Olympic Intentions
“Of course, I would accept doing anything I’m required to do to participate in competitions,” Khelif told CNN this week. “They should protect women, but they need to pay attention that while protecting women, they shouldn’t hurt other women.”
The 26-year-old, who won gold in the women’s welterweight division at the Paris 2024 Games, directly addressed misinformation about her identity. “I’m not transgender. I’m a woman. I want to live my life. Please do not exploit me in your political agendas,” she said.
Response to Trump’s Executive Order
Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which stated that US policy opposes “male participation in women’s sports.” In a January address to Republican lawmakers, Trump incorrectly referred to Khelif as a “male boxer.”
Khelif responded directly in an ITV interview earlier. “I will give you a straightforward answer: the President of the United States made a decision regarding policies in America. I am not transgender. This does not concern me, and does not intimidate me,” she said.
When asked about returning to the US for the 2028 Games, Khelif confirmed her intentions. “A gold medal, of course. In America, Los Angeles,” she stated.
World Boxing Ban and Court Appeal
Khelif has been barred from World Boxing competitions since May 2025, when the organisation announced mandatory genetic sex testing for all athletes. World Boxing, which received provisional recognition from the IOC in February 2025 to govern Olympic boxing, specifically named Khelif in its announcement before later apologising.
The Algerian filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in August 2025, seeking to overturn the decision. CAS rejected her request to suspend the ban while the case proceeds, meaning Khelif missed the World Championships in September. The appeal remains ongoing.
Khelif was previously disqualified from the 2023 IBA World Championships over alleged eligibility issues, though the International Boxing Association never disclosed details of the tests. The IBA was stripped of Olympic recognition in 2019 over governance and ethics concerns, and the IOC cleared Khelif to compete in Paris.
Personal Background and Family Impact
Khelif was born on May 2, 1999, in Aïn Sidi Ali, a small town in Laghouat Province, Algeria. She grew up in a conservative rural environment where her father initially disapproved of her boxing. Her mother sold couscous to help fund transportation to training sessions.
Khelif competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals, before winning gold in Paris. Her father, Omar, shared her birth documents with the media during the Paris controversy, stating: “This is our family official document, May 2, 1999, Imane Khelif, female.”
The online scrutiny from public figures took a toll on her family. “My mother was deeply affected, she was going to the hospital almost every day,” Khelif revealed. “My relatives were also impacted, and the entire Algerian people felt the weight of the situation.”
Khelif expressed surprise that figures including Trump and author JK Rowling spoke about her situation “without having verified facts.” She has filed cyberbullying lawsuits against some of her critics, including Elon Musk.
The IOC’s new president, Kirsty Coventry, has initiated a task force to examine gender eligibility issues ahead of the LA Games. Khelif’s willingness to comply with IOC-administered testing suggests she is positioning herself to compete, though she has specified the tests must come from Olympic authorities rather than World Boxing .
“I have not surrendered because justice is on my side above all else,” Khelif said of her ongoing legal battle.
