Algerian boxer Imane Khelif said her dreams had come true after she defeated China's Yang Liu to capture Olympic gold in the women's 66kg division on Friday night.
Khelif, who has seen her campaign in Paris overshadowed by a gender controversy fuelled by rampant misinformation, defied her critics as she comprehensively out-boxed Yang to earn a richly-deserved unanimous decision in front of thousands of noisy Algerian fans at Roland Garros.
Khelif, who only started boxing eight years ago, scored again and again with her jab and backed it up with her signature straight right hand as she swept all three rounds 5-0 for the biggest win of her career.
"I'm very happy. For eight years this has been my dream and I'm now the Olympic champion and gold medallist," said Khelif, 25. "I've worked for eight years, no sleep, eight years tired. Now I'm Olympic champion.
"I want to thank all the people who have come to support me. All the people from Algeria and all the people at my base. I want to thank all the team, my coach. Thank you so much."
After her win, Khelif jumped into the arms of her coaches, one of them hoisting her up on his shoulders and carrying her around the arena in a victory lap as she pumped her fists and waved an Algerian flag while fans chanted: "Imane, Imane..."
The outpouring of emotion was entirely understandable given the extreme level of scrutiny she had been under amid a scarcely-believable media frenzy stoked up by the spurious statements of major public figures such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling.
The controversy erupted after her first-round victory over Angela Carini. The Italian, who would later apologise for her part in sparking the subsequent uproar, abandoned the bout after 46 seconds and wept in the ring. Soon social media was ablaze with false claims Khelif was transgender.
Khelif, who was born a woman, has lived as a woman, is a woman on her passport, and has boxed in female competitions – including the Tokyo Olympics – for many years, was banned in 2023 by the International Boxing Association (IBA). They claimed she had failed gender eligibility tests. Despite numerous requests, the IBA has never provided any proof of this.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), who banished the scandal-hit IBA from the Games, reinstated Khelif – along with Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting – and has steadfastly backed the Algerian pugilist.
IOC president Thomas Bach said prior to Friday's gold-medal bout: “This is not a question of inclusion, this has never played a role in all this, this is a question of justice: women must be allowed to take part in women’s competitions. And the two are women."
Despite the unsavoury prelude, Khelif was able to enjoy her moment of glory. She was applauded by all three of her fellow medallists on the podium and there were tears in her eyes as the Algerian national anthem was played.
Taiwan's Lin, the second boxer to have had her eligibility questioned, fights Poland's Julia Szeremeta in the women's featherweight final on Saturday.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
