Olympic champ Imane Khelif unveiled bold new look and reflected on a “difficult phase” as gender-testing has kept her sidelined from the ring
18:27 ET, 20 Aug 2025Updated 18:27 ET, 20 Aug 2025
Olympic champion Imane Khelif celebrates after winning gold at the Paris 2024 Games(Image: Getty)
Olympic boxing gold medalist Imane Khelif has reintroduced herself with a bold new look over a year after her Paris triumph and the gender eligibility controversy that followed.
The 26-year old, who opened up on her “really difficult” childhood, was photographed alongside Algerian TV and podcast host Nassima Djaffar Bey, appearing with flowing hair and makeup. The image was shared via Instagram with Djaffar Bey’s caption, “Always a pleasure.”
The makeover arrives amidst a protracted absence from the ring. Khelif, who hit back at Donald Trump earlier this year, last competed in 2024, claiming Olympic gold in the women’s welterweight division, an accomplishment clouded by eligibility challenges.
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She and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting had been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships over alleged gender test failures under the International Boxing Association (IBA), only to be cleared by the IOC for the 2024 Paris Games.
Since the Olympics, the newly formed governing body World Boxing has introduced mandatory genetic sex testing for athletes in women’s events.
The move requires PCR-based screening for the Y chromosome and has sidelined Khelif from competitions, including the June Eindhoven Box Cup until she completes the test.
The organization later issued an apology for naming her specifically in the announcement, acknowledging a breach of privacy.
On the anniversary of her Olympic victory, Khelif posted a heartfelt message on Instagram. She wrote: “It was an unforgettable moment… tears mixed with the awe of pride… Today, on the anniversary of that triumph, I’m going through a difficult phase filled with challenges, silence, and waiting… But despite everything, the spirit that fought for gold still beats within me.”
Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif appears with new look in Instagram photo alongside Algerian presenter Nassima Djaffar Bey(Image: Instagram/Nassima Djaffar Bey)
“I am Imane Khelif — a champion yesterday, resilient today, and determined to return tomorrow.”
The broader implications of mandatory sex testing continue to spark heated debate. The policy, announced under emergency provisions, has raised concerns over fairness, safety, and privacy in women’s sport, especially regarding athletes with differences in sex development (DSD).
World Boxing has indicated that athletes with identified Y chromosome material may compete only in the men’s category unless further assessments and appeals are granted.
Meanwhile, the IOC has reaffirmed no retrospective action will be taken against Khelif’s Olympic result, emphasizing the need to protect women’s sport after the IBA’s decisions were deemed to have lacked due process.