GENDER row boxer Imane Khelif has reaffirmed her intentions to defend her gold medal at the 2028 Olympics.
The welterweight has opened up on her plans following news that the IOC is expected to introduce a ban on transgender athletes at the games, leaving their policy on athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) in uncertain territory.
Khelif found herself at the centre of a heated controversy at last year’s Paris Olympics after reports emerged claiming that she had failed a gender eligibility test during an event the year before.
The 26-year-old would go on to win gold in the tournament with a victory over China‘s Yang Liu.
World Boxing introduced new measures in the wake of the games that required athletes undergo sex screening before being allowed to compete.
Khelif was born and raised female, but has been accused of having DSD which could leave her at risk of being affected by the potential International Olympic Committee crackdown on gender-based advantages if proven.
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But the Algerian has remained undeterred in the face of the potential changes to gender eligibility.
Per the Mail, Khelif said: “I am working on many surprises that I have not yet announced, but God willing, we will be on the right track.
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“In the Paris Olympics and after, and even now, I am still being subjected to campaigns, injustice, and new decisions from international federations,
“But I currently have a case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS], and God willing, it will be for the best.
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Khelif has appealed World Boxing’s decision to ban her from competition pending a gender test, taking the matter to CAS in September.
However, that process is still ongoing and no decision has been reached, with the athlete not having competed since winning gold last year.
Even if any IOC measures do not affect her ability to defend her title at the 2028 Games, Khelif faces an uphill battle to return to non-Olympic competition while the ban is in place.
She added: “The dream continues, and the work continues, and as for the campaigns and the people who criticize, I say to them, continue, because I am developing.
“This law issued by the International Boxing Association was specifically for Imane Khelif and not for athletes. They issued this law after the Paris Olympics.
“Today I am fighting inside and outside the ring, but the law is above all voices, and the decision is fundamentally illogical and contrary to the law.”
The measures expected to be brought in by the IOC come as part of a push under new head Kirsty Coventry to “protect the female category” at the games.
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Coventry reportedly formed a taskforce to research potential advantages for transgender and DSD athletes and produce policy guided by their findings.
The IOC told the BBC in regard to the changes: “The working group is continuing its discussions on this topic and no decisions have been taken yet.”
