Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has revealed in her latest interview that she has undergone hormone treatment to decrease her testosterone levels for her participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics. She, however, confirmed that her identity is straight and not transgender. At the Paris Games, the Algerian boxer won gold in the women’s 66kg event.
On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, the 26-year-old Algerian boxer, in a recent interview, revealed, “I have female hormones. And people don’t know this, but I have taken hormone treatments to lower my testosterone levels for competitions.”
Since her appearance and victory at the Paris Games, Khelif has not made any active participation after she was prevented from participating in the World Boxing in last year’s tournament in the Netherlands. The main reason for the restriction was that she did not undergo the newly introduced chromosome test.
Khelif’s public address came into projection and highlights after last year’s decision to introduce mandatory genetic testing for all boxers who are above the age of 18. The decision was enacted by the sport’s international amateur governing body, which believes in ensuring the safety of its participants and setting a competitive level for men and women boxers coming into the playing field.
Khelif to take sex test for 2028 LA Olympics
Meanwhile, Khelif has set her sights on participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. In addition to her participation, she must first undergo a necessary gender test as per the rules of World Boxing, for which she is prepared. World Boxing is a recognised body of the International Olympic Committee.
“For the next Games, if I have to take a test, I will. I have no problem with that. I’ve already taken this test. I contacted World Boxing, I sent them my medical records, my hormone tests, everything. But I haven’t had any response. I’m not hiding, I’m not refusing the tests,” she mentioned in the interview.
Khelif has, however, left the decision to the doctors and professors to state her gender identity. She is, however, not bothered by the results and is not afraid to take the sex test.
“We all have different genetics, different hormone levels. I’m not transgender. My difference is natural. This is who I am. I haven’t done anything to change the way nature made me. That’s why I’m not afraid,” she also added.
