It’s been over a year since the Paris Olympics, but the controversy surrounding Algerian boxing star and gold medalist Imane Khelif refuses to fade away. Despite the Games being long over, Khelif continues to find herself at the center of heated discussions. As the Olympic movement shifts focus toward Los Angeles 2028, new debates have reignited around the 26-year-old, who faced accusations of being a bilogical male during the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the time, the IOC ruled that Imane Khelif was eligible to compete as a woman.

The decision came after a major dispute in 2023, when officials disqualified her just hours before her bout at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi. The IBA claimed she failed to meet its “gender-eligibility criteria” for female competitors due to “elevated levels of testosterone.” Now, as preparations for the next Olympics move forward, reports indicate that the IOC plans to tighten its gender policy and possibly impose a full ban on transgender women competing in female categories. This raises an important question: could future events ban Imane Khelif?

Is Imane Khelif eligible to compete at the next Olympics?

Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, conservative ideology has increasingly influenced various areas in America, including boxing. Back in May, World Boxing took lessons from the IOC’s previous missteps. Earlier this year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially recognized ‘World Boxing’ as the sport’s new international governing body, replacing the International Boxing Association (IBA, formerly AIBA) as the primary authority for boxing at the upcoming Olympics.

With the IOC’s approval, World Boxing quickly implemented changes, including a new mandatory policy for strict testing in “Sex, Age and Weight.” All athletes aiming to compete in women’s categories now “need to undergo PCR genetic tests to determine sex at birth and eligibility to compete,” according to a recent update from the boxing page. The update also noted that “Trump’s pressure,” has had an impact, as the IOC has declared: “The International Olympic Committee will prohibit transgender athletes from participating in women’s categories.”

Given these findings, it appears unlikely that Imane Khelif will be able to compete in the 2028 Olympics. Last year, Khelif did not enter the ring, and she was scheduled to make a comeback at the Eindhoven Box Cup this June. However, the latest organization sent a direct message to the Algerian Boxing Federation, putting her participation in doubt.

The road ahead for Imane Khelif

Eindhoven Box Cup organizers have made it clear that Imane Khelif cannot compete in the female category at their event or any other World Boxing competition until she undergoes genetic screening in line with “World Boxing rules and testing procedures.” As a result, her status in women’s boxing remains uncertain, casting doubt on her potential appearance at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Despite this, Khelif has remained defiant and determined to participate. Even with the IOC’s latest guidance, organizers have still allowed her to continue practicing based on the gender listed in her passport. Earlier this year, she also hinted at a possible move in weight class for the LA Olympics: “With the change in weight classes, I have to compete at 70kg. In Paris, I won at 66kg, but I don’t think this increase will be difficult for me,” she said in April.

For now, the path forward remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Imane Khelif must comply with the new gender-testing PCR rules to continue her boxing career and pursue her 2028 Olympics dream. Until she completes the tests and officials confirm the results, the female division remains in limbo, and therefore, no one can guarantee her participation. Stay tuned.