Boxer Imane Khelif will undergo the necessary trials for the 2028 Olympic Games

Paris.- The Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, questioned for her gender and gold in the 66-kilo category at the Paris Olympic Games, stated that she has undergone hormonal treatments to lower her "natural" testosterone level and that she will take the necessary tests for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

"We all have different genetics, different hormone levels. I am not transgender. My difference is natural. I am who I am. I haven't done anything to change the way nature made me," Khelif stated in an interview with the sports newspaper L'Equipe.

The 26-year-old boxer, who lives and trains in Paris, assured that she is not "afraid" of undergoing medical tests. "For the next Games, if I have to take a test, I will. I have no problem with that," he assured. In fact, he revealed that he has already done it and contacted World Boxing (WB), which does not allow athletes to participate in its competitions without a preliminary sex verification test. "I contacted World Boxing, I sent them my medical record, my hormone tests, everything. But I haven't received any response," lamented the Algerian. Khelif insisted that he is not "hiding anything" nor is he refusing to take the tests. "What I don't understand is why so much importance is being given to my story," he pointed out.

The boxer specified that she has a female phenotype, but possesses the SRY gene, an indicator of masculinity, "naturally".

"People don't know it, but I have already lowered my testosterone levels for the competitions," revealed the athlete, commenting that she reduced it to zero (the average level is between 0.3 and 3 nanomoles per liter of blood in women) to compete in the qualifying tournament for the Paris Games, which was held in Dakar, and there she won the gold medal. That hormonal treatment, which at an emotional level "destabilizes" her and makes her "cry a lot", however, does not make "much difference" when it comes to boxing because, for her, "boxing is never about strength or power. Boxing is mental. It's about tactics, technique, movement. Intelligence." Her Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games sparked a global controversy, fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who insinuated that she was a transgender athlete and should not be allowed to compete in women's events. "What happened to me was too much for me. What hurt me the most was that I have a family (...) This controversy had a great impact on my life. I don't look at social media; I realized that it was a space where people could attack you without knowing you and that's dangerous," she reflected.

Khelif, to Trump: "I am not trans"

Imane Khelif plans to compete in the Los Angeles 2028 Games, but must await the IOC's decision, which has appointed a commission for "gender equality, diversity and inclusion", which is expected to rule in March. "I respect everyone, and I respect Trump. Because he is the President of the United States. But he cannot distort the truth. I am not trans, I am a girl. I was raised as a girl, I grew up as a girl, the people in my town have always known me as a girl. I respect him if he respects the truth," she stated.

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Asked what she would say to Trump if she had him in front of her, she replied: "Mr. President, I am a girl, a young Arab and Muslim, a boxer. And I am working for you to come and give me a medal on the podium in Los Angeles".

The French Boxing Federation has just issued him a professional boxing license, but wants to make it clear that "fighting professionally does not mean he is giving up on the 2028 Games". "Not at all. I want to box for Algeria in the Los Angeles Games and become the first person in Algerian sport to revalidate their Olympic title," he concluded.