Imane Khelif found herself at the heart of a firestorm during the Paris Olympics, facing backlash from global figures like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and J.K. Rowling.
But despite the controversy, she refuses to back down. With her sights set on defending her crown at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, she now has a bold message for President Trump…
How the controversy erupted
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, 25, has been at the center of a heated controversy, with critics calling for her to be banned from women’s boxing. The backlash intensified after she was disqualified from the 2023 World Championships over disputed claims that she failed gender eligibility tests.
Tests conducted by the controversial International Boxing Association (IBA) reportedly found that Imane Khelif has male XY chromosomes.
Despite this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed her to compete, leading to outrage from the IBA, which has since filed legal action against the Olympic governing body.
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At the Paris Olympics, controversy erupted during the women’s 66kg quarterfinal match. Algerian boxer Imane Khelif landed a powerful punch that forced Italy’s Angela Carini out of the ring — just 46 seconds into the fight. Carini withdrew, citing ‘severe pain’ from the blow.
The event led to people who were speculating about Khelif’s gender not being ”biologically female” to further question it and think it was unfair for Italy’s Carini to have to go against someone who was not ”female.”
Facing legal action
Despite the uproar, Khelif went on to claim gold in the welterweight division at the Paris Olympics. But the question now is whether she’ll get the chance to defend her gold in Los Angeles 2028.
Now, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is facing legal action for allowing her to compete.
Adding fuel to the fire, President Donald Trump recently reignited the debate, signing an executive order titled Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports. He took direct aim at Khelif, referring to her as a ”male boxer” who had ”transitioned” and ”stole the women’s gold medal after brutalizing his female opponent.”
But Khelif is not backing down. The Algerian fighter has fired back at Trump, making it clear that she will not be intimidated.
Hits back at Donald Trump
In an interview with ITV, she dismissed any connection between herself and recent transgender policies in the U.S., stating:
”The US President issued a decision related to transgender policies in America. I am not transgender. This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me.”
Despite the firestorm of controversy, Khelif sees her triumph in Paris as the ultimate response to those who tried to bring her down.
”I have learned so much from this campaign against me, and what happened at the Paris Olympics was an eye-opening experience,” she reflected.
She insists the experience only made her stronger:
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”I feel even stronger now than I was before…. if the old Imane operated at 50 percent of her potential, then the Imane Khelif of today is even more motivated and determined.”
Winning Olympic gold, she says, was more than just an athletic victory — it was a powerful statement.
”I believe the gold medal at the Paris Olympics was the best medal of the entire Games. It was a victory that held significance on every level — ethical, athletic, and even in terms of sportsmanship.”
Filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk
However, the relentless criticism from high-profile figures, including Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling, had a serious impact on her family, particularly her mother.
”When I saw that even heads of state, famous figures, and former athletes were speaking about me without having verified facts, it shocked me,” she admitted.
The negativity took a heavy toll on her loved ones. The Algerian boxer also filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling, accusing them of “cyber-harassment.”
”It affected me mentally, as well as my family. Even my mother was deeply affected—she was going to the hospital almost every day.”
Khelif revealed that, at times, the pressure was overwhelming, but she refused to give in.
”This went beyond just a sporting issue or a game… I was deeply affected mentally and felt discouraged, but I remained aware of what was happening. Even during the Paris Olympics, I had a team of specialist doctors who provided me with support and assistance. Without their support, I might have fallen into a spiral of depression.”