Rabat – Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who won Olympic gold at the Paris Games, has announced her plans to turn professional, following a triumph overshadowed by a gender controversy.
Speaking at a press conference, she confirmed her plans to pursue a professional boxing career and revealed that a documentary about her journey is in production.
“I have many offers, and soon I will take this step,” she said, adding that she hopes to showcase Algeria’s level in professional boxing.
Khelif achieved Olympic victory in the welterweight division, where she outpointed several top contenders, including Hungarian Luca Anna Hamori and Thai Janjaem Suwannapheng. However, her triumph sparked debate following her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships over gender eligibility concerns.
The 25-year-old boxer faced intense scrutiny, with unfounded claims circulating about her gender identity. Allegations surfaced during the Paris Olympics that Khelif was either transgender or intersex, though there has been no evidence to support these claims.
The International Boxing Association (IBA), which had disqualified her in 2023, hinted at issues related to XY chromosomes but stopped short of making any direct accusations.
Despite the controversy, Khelif remained focused and went on to secure Olympic gold for Algeria.
British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who works with stars like Anthony Joshua, expressed interest in signing Khelif, while acknowledging the complexity of the situation.
He noted that any potential advantage due to gender concerns must be addressed carefully, but said, “If you’ve lived your whole life as a female and competed as a female, you have a right to compete as a female.”
Although her professional career is looking up, Khelif’s struggles with the backlash of the gender controversy are far from over. In August, Khelif filed a cyberbullying lawsuit after being targeted on social media.
“Mrs Khelif contacted the firm, which filed a complaint yesterday for aggravated cyber harassment with the online hate centre of the Paris prosecutor’s office,” said her lawyer Nabil Boudi to the press.
He continued, “The criminal investigation will determine who initiated this misogynistic, racist and sexist campaign, but will also have to focus on those who fuelled this digital lynching. The unfair harassment suffered by the boxing champion will remain the biggest stain of these Olympic Games.”
Her legal complaint is against high-profile individuals, including Elon Musk and British author J.K. Rowling.
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