Imane Khelif fired a broadside at Donald Trump, telling the US President she is not intimidated by him and that she intends to defend her Olympic title in Los Angeles in 2028.
The Algerian boxer, 25, won gold in Paris last year in the women's welterweight division amid a gender eligibility storm that shows no signs of abating.
In February, Trump falsely called Khelif had transitioned from a man and signed an executive order banning transgender girls and women from competing in women's sports in the United States.
Speaking to ITV News in an interview to be broadcast on Wednesday evening, Khelif said: “I will give you a straightforward answer: 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. That is my response.”
That came after Khelif interrupted a question about her dream of repeating her triumph, saying: “Second gold medal, of course. In America, Los Angeles.”
Khelif’s triumph in Paris, along with that of Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, sparked a gender eligibility debate to which high-profile figures such as President Trump, Elon Musk and JK Rowling contributed.
In November, the International Olympic Committee said Khelif was taking legal action over media reports allegedly detailing her leaked medical records.
A report published in French magazine Le Correspondant claimed to have seen a medical report about the Algerian. The IOC said the report was based on “unverified documents whose origin cannot be confirmed”.
Khelif revealed she was “deeply affected mentally” by the “major media campaign” surrounding her, and said her mother was attending hospital almost daily as her family shared the brunt of the attacks.
The furore followed an International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision to dismiss the blood tests which had prompted the now discredited International Boxing Association (IBA) to disqualify Khelif from the World Championships in 2023.
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Gold medallist Imane Khelif poses on the podium. AFP -
From the left: Silver medallist China's Yang Liu, gold medallist Algeria's Imane Khelif and bronze medallists Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng and Taiwan's Chen Nien. AFP -
Gold medallist Imane Khelif poses on the podium during the medal ceremony. AFP -
Algeria's Imane Khelif, left, fights China's Yang Liu. AP -
Algeria's Imane Khelif, right, fights China's Yang Liu. AP -
Algeria's Imane Khelif after beating China's Yang Liu. AFP -
Algerian fans celebrate as they watch their compatriot Imane Khelif win the gold medal. EPA -
Algerian fans celebrate as they watch their compatriot Imane Khelif win the gold medal. EPA -
Algerian fans celebrate as they watch their compatriot Imane Khelif win the gold medal. EPA -
Algerian fans celebrate as they watch their compatriot Imane Khelif win the gold medal. EPA
She said: “As we say in Algeria, those who have nothing to hide should have no fear. The truth became clear at the Paris Olympics — the injustice was exposed and later, the truth was acknowledged by the Olympic Committee in Paris.”
In February, Khelif condemned the IBA after the organisation made fresh claims about her gender and said it was to take legal action against the IOC over the inclusion of Khelif and Lin at last year's Games.
She added: “For me, I see myself as a girl, just like any other girl. I was born a girl, raised as a girl, and have lived my entire life as one.
“I have competed in many tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics and other major competitions, as well as four World Championships. All of these took place before I started winning and earning titles. But once I began achieving success, the campaigns against me started.”
The future of boxing faced uncertainty following the Paris Games as the IOC deliberated over which body should oversee the sport at the Olympics.
The boxing tournaments at the last two Games were organised by the IOC, which suspended the IBA in 2019 over governance issues and then withdrew recognition for it completely in 2023.
However, the IOC's executive board recommended that boxing remains part of the programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, following an earlier decision on February 27 to recognise World Boxing as the sport’s international federation.
The executive board’s decision is expected to be ratified at the IOC Session in Greece on Wednesday.
