Imane Khelif has denied allegations of being transgender.
International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev has urged Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to return the gold medal won at the 2024 Paris Olympics to the rightful winner, amid a gender-eligibility row.
Khelif won the gold medal in the women’s 66 kg (welterweight) event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The athlete’s eligibility sparked controversy after the IBA barred Khelif from the 2023 World Championships for failing a chromosome-based gender verification test.
In an interview with SunSport, published on July 2, Kremlev said that he believes the gold medal should be “truly deserved,” and that Khelif should return it to the “real female owner.”
“No, I’m not satisfied,” Kremlev said. “We must protect athletes and give them the best conditions. I am here for truth, transparency, and openness. And now the truth has been revealed.”
“There should be no unfair fights in boxing and the international federations should take care of their athletes. So the medal should be returned to the real owner, the real female owner,” he added.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated last year that concerns over the eligibility of Khelif stemmed from a “sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA,” adding that they were disqualified from the 2023 World Championships “without any due process.”
Khelif has denied allegations of being transgender and has previously expressed an intention to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
The IOC withdrew its recognition of the IBA in 2023, citing the organization’s failure to implement reforms on governance, finance, and ethical issues.
World Boxing, which will replace the IBA at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, has planned to introduce a mandatory sex-testing policy as part of an effort to protect all participating athletes in future events.
The organization specifically named Khelif in its announcement, stating the boxer would need to be screened before participating in any upcoming events, including the Eindhoven Box Cup. The decision to single out Khelif in the announcement drew criticism, prompting World Boxing to later apologize.
