Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, won gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Ever since, her life has been spiraling downward.
Khelif’s name has been trending following a report from 3 Wire Sports. The report cited medical documents from chromosome tests given by the International Boxing Association (IBA) before the 2022 and 2023 world championships and reported that Khelif’s DNA showed “markers with male karyotypes.”
Khelif was disqualified from the 2023 championships before a gold medal bout over gender eligibility issues.
After qualifying for the Olympics, the boxer was thrust into the global spotlight, with the gender controversy coming to light. Khelif defeated Angela Carini in the initial fight during the Paris Olympics, and all hell broke loose.
As the controversy grew, Khelif kept winning and was eventually awarded a gold medal. The IOC stood by her side the entire time.
Now, the IBA is coming after her again.
Umar Kremlev, president of the IBA, has made it clear that he believes Imane Khelif should not have been competing, and now they are demanding that she return her gold medal.
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Imane Khelif, the male boxer who gate-crashed into the sport of female boxing, was completely banned from the sport and was told to return his Olympic gold medal. pic.twitter.com/ktn1iEIsDH
— Diskuter (@Diskuterto) June 28, 2025
“I am not satisfied. A medal should be won on real merit,” Kremlev said during an interview with SunSport.
“We must protect athletes and ensure a level playing field for all. Now that the truth has come out, that medal should be returned to its rightful owner – a real woman.”
The International Olympic Committee does not recognize the International Boxing Association.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry has made it clear that no action against Khelif will be taken.
“It was agreed by the members that the IOC should take a leading role in this,” Coventry said recently, according to The Guardian.
“And that we should be the ones to bring together the experts and the international federations and ensure that we find consensus.
“We understand that there will be differences depending on the sports. But it was fully agreed that as members, as the IOC, we should make the effort to place emphasis on protection of the female category.”
Imane Khelif Posts Defiant Message
Khelif, the Olympic boxer who was at the center of controversy surrounding her gender and her gold medal boxing victory at the Paris Olympics, broke her silence last week after the International Olympic Committee announced new rules to “protect the female category” in Olympic sports.
Khelif appeared to respond to the IOC decision on Instagram.
Khelif wrote in an Instagram Story, ”Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
The post also included the song “I’m Still Here” by Sia.
Also Read: Imane Khelif Delivers Strong Message After IOC Unveils New Rules To “Protect Female Olympians”
