Olympics gender-row boxer Imane Khelif reveals body transformation plans to fight at the next Games – with eyes on another gold medal

Khelif won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics despite a row over her eligibility

The Algerian fighter has outlined her plans to compete in Los Angeles in 2028

Khelif revealed she will move up a weight class as she targets another gold

Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who won gold at the Paris Olympics amid a gender row, has revealed her plans to move up in weight ahead of competing at the next Games in Los Angeles.

Khelif was at the centre of a bitter storm during last year’s Olympics, with controversy over the 25-year-old and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting’s participation at the Games.

Both boxers had been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships run by the International Boxing Association (IBA), the former governing body for the sport.

The IBA had claimed Khelif and Lin had failed gender eligibility tests, leading to their disqualification from the event.

Amid a debate over whether Lin and Khelif should be allowed to compete at the Olympics, the two fighters would go on to win gold in the featherweight and welterweight events respectively.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, Khelif has confirmed her plans to compete at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and revealed she is looking to compete at a heavier weight class.

Imane Khelif has revealed body transformation plans to compete at the Los Angeles Olympics

Khelif won gold in the women’s welterweight boxing event in Paris amid a gender eligibility row

The Algerian fighter explained she will move up in weight with the classes now confirmed

The Algerian fighter explained she had weighed around 66 kilograms in Paris. The welterweight class in Los Angeles has been confirmed as being between 60-65kg.

The light-middleweight class will be between 65-70kg, while the middleweight has been confirmed as being between 70-75kg.

As well as confirming her Olympic plans, Khelif also revealed her ambitions to transition into professional boxing.

‘I’m focused on achieving a second Olympic gold in 2028, as well as preparing for the transition to professional,’ Khelif told Marca.

‘What I want is to do a perfect job, to arrive in better shape than I did in Paris, given that I now have greater mental and physical balance.

For the transition to professional, I’ll be waiting for a good contract, and the best offer will convince me.

‘With the change in weight classes, I have to compete at 70kg. In Paris, I won at 66 kg, but I don’t think this increase will be difficult for me.

‘I’m 1.80 m tall and I’m studying with the team how to best adapt to the new division.’

Khelif poses for the cameras showing off her gold medal from the Paris Olympics last year

Khelif won Olympic gold despite being disqualified from the World Championships in 2023

Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting also won gold in Paris despite being at the centre of the gender row

Khelif, 25, has also revealed her ambitions to make the move into professional boxing

Despite the controversy surrounding her participation at the Olympics, Khelif insisted she believes she is a ‘symbol for many women around the world.’

In February, the IBA – the Russian-led body who administered those disputed 2023 tests – announced they have launched legal action against against the International Olympic Committee for allowing Khelif and Lin to compete at Paris 2024.

Khelif issued a statement accusing the organisation of making ‘baseless accusations’ to ‘further their agenda’.

The 25-year-old said wrote in a statement that ‘all necessary legal steps’ would be explored to ‘ensure that my rights and principles of fair competition are upheld’.

World Boxing, the new governing body entrusted with overseeing the sport at the Los Angeles Olympics, are expected to announce eligibility rules in the coming weeks.

Boris van der Vorst, World Boxing president, said a working group and the organisation’s medical committee will develop a sex, age and weight policy.

The Dutchman stated that the governing body are looking to create a level-playing field for men and women and ensure the safety of boxers.