Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has firmly denied retirement rumors while addressing the mounting pressure following World Boxing’s implementation of mandatory chromosome testing for competitors.
The Algerian boxer took to Facebook to dispel claims made by her former manager, Nasser Yesfah. He had been quoted in French newspaper Nice Matin, suggesting she had ended her career.
Khelif responded: “I would like to make it clear to the public that the reports of my retirement from boxing are false.”
The controversy surrounding Khelif’s eligibility has intensified since she became one of two boxers at the center of a gender eligibility debate during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite winning gold in the women’s boxing competition, questions about her participation have persisted, particularly after alleged medical test results from 2023 surfaced in June.
Khelif expressed her disappointment with her former representative, stating that Yesfah had “betrayed [her] trust and [her] country with his false and malicious statements.” She emphasized that “this person no longer represents me in any way,” distancing herself completely from his comments.
The champion made it clear that her competitive spirit remains intact: “I have never announced my retirement from boxing. I remain committed to my sporting career, I train regularly and I maintain my physical condition between Algeria and Qatar in preparation for upcoming events.”
However, Khelif will not participate in the upcoming World Championships in Liverpool this September, with Algeria sending a replacement competitor instead. This absence comes after World Boxing introduced new regulations requiring fighters to undergo mandatory sex screening through PCR testing or equivalent genetic screening methods.
The new protocols examine saliva, blood, or nasal swabs to determine chromosome composition. According to World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst, individuals deemed male at birth with a Y chromosome or those with differences where male androgenization has occurred will not be eligible to compete in women’s categories.
Van der Vorst defended the policy, explaining: “World Boxing respects the dignity of all individuals and is keen to ensure it is as inclusive as possible, yet in a combat sport like boxing, we have a duty of care to deliver safety and competitiveness fairness which are the key principles that have guided the development and creation of this policy.”
The leaked 2023 medical test, which allegedly revealed a “male karyotype” with XY chromosomes, has led to calls for Khelif to be stripped of her Olympic gold medal. This controversy has created what Khelif described as a “difficult phase” in a recent Instagram post marking the anniversary of her Olympic victory.
Reflecting on her current situation, Khelif wrote: “Today, on the anniversary of that triumph, I’m going through a difficult phase filled with challenges, silence, and waiting… But despite everything, the spirit that fought for gold still beats within me.”
Recently, Khelif was photographed alongside Algerian television host Nassima Djaffar Bey, appearing with makeup and flowing hair in what some interpreted as a more feminine presentation amid the ongoing scrutiny of her gender identity.
She concluded in her anniversary post: “I am Imane Khelif a champion yesterday, resilient today, and determined to return tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who still believes in me… And to myself, thank you for never giving up.”
