IMANE KHELIF is still targeting the 2028 Olympics despite admitting she took hormone treatments before hitting gold at 2024.
The 26-year-old Algerian bludgeoned her way to the top of the Paris podium sparking a furious backlash from the likes of Elon Musk and Harry Potter legend JK Rowling.
And new boxing governing body World Boxing – who will rule the sport at the Los Angeles games – has since introduced sex identification testing.
Khelif unsuccessfully appealed the move but says she still has an American Dream and has confirmed the extreme lengths she went to for her controversial French triumph.
Khelif told L’Equipe: “I have female hormones.
“People don’t know it, but I took hormone treatments to lower my testosterone levels for competitions.
“I am surrounded by doctors, a professor follows me.
“For the qualifying tournament for the Paris Games, which was taking place in Dakar, I lowered my testosterone level to zero and I won the gold medal.
“For the next Games, if I have to take a test, I will do it.
“I have no problem with that. I’ve already done this test.
“I contacted World Boxing, I sent them my medical records, my hormone tests, everything.
“But I didn’t get any answer. I don’t hide, I don’t refuse tests.”
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In 2024, Khelif filed a criminal complaint over alleged cyberbullying, which reportedly named Rowling and the outspoken X owner.
But French law made it almost impossible for either mega-money celeb to be charged.
“I’m not a trans person,” she said about the social media pile-on. “I’m a girl.
“I was raised as a girl, I grew up as a girl.
“The people of my village have always known me as a girl.”
The Home of Boxing in 2026
There’s a massive year of boxing ahead!
It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
Tyson Fury will make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov, Conor Benn is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.
Derek Chisora will fight for the 50th and (perhaps) final time against Deontay Wilder, while Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of Moses Itauma, Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
Here’s all the big fights coming up…
February
- Sat 7 – Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa – WBA featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 21 – Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios – WBC welterweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 21 – Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington – DAZN
- Sun 22 – Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn – heavyweight unification – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – super-featherweight unification – DAZN
March
- Sat 14 – Jazza Dickens vs Anthony Cacace – WBA super-featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Sebastian Fundora vs Keith Thurman – Amazon Prime PPV
April
- Sat 4 – Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder – DAZN PPV
- Sat 11 – Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – Netflix
