Imane Khelif told to 'return Olympic medal from Paris' as boxing chief explains 'suspicious moments'

WATCH NOW: ''It is just unfair!' Martin Daubney erupts after activist defends Imane Khelif - 'My children were in tears!'

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 25/06/2025

- 10:33

The Algerian boxer won gold at the Paris Olympics last summer

IBA president Umar Kremlev has called on Imane Khelif to return the gold medal won at last summer's Paris Olympics, nearly 12 months on from the controversy that cast a cloud over the Games in France.

Khelif made the headlines by winning gold, just three years after the boxer had struggled in Tokyo.


There were widespread allegations that the fighter wasn't eligible to compete after previously failing two gender tests at the World Championships.

Khelif was still allowed to compete by the IOC, however, with the Algerian going all the way despite the controversy.

Imane Khelif

Imane Khelif won gold at the Paris Olympics last summer

GETTY

The IBA previously banned the 25-year-old from their sanctioned events after two rounds of testing.

The tests, which were conducted in 2022 and 2023, found that she reportedly possessed XY chromosomes.

And Kremlev has now hit out at the IOC for allowing Khelif to compete, insisting the fighter should return the gold medal won last summer to Games organisers.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the IBA president alleged: "The IOC is not fighting for the fairness in sport.

JUST IN:BBC leave out three big names as broadcaster announces presenters and commentators for Wimbledon 2025

"The IOC is giving away medals based on their political interests. Imane Khelif should be made to return the Olympic medal from Paris."

Kremlev then elaborated on the gender tests which Khelif reportedly failed.

He continued: "The first test was carried out during the 2022 World Championships, after we noticed some suspicious, suspicious moments.

"We decided to test a group of athletes, not just one or two. Two of the results came back, let's say, abnormal.

READ MORE: Former England footballer faces bankruptcy after 'being hit with HRMC bankruptcy petition'

Umar Kremlev

IBA president Umar Kremlev has called on Imane Khelif to return the gold medal won at last summer's Paris Olympics, nearly 12 months on from the controversy that cast a cloud over the Games in France

GETTY

"It was the first time we had encountered a situation like this, so we felt it was necessary to conduct a second round of testing to be absolutely sure before making such a serious decision.

"That second test was done in 2023 and confirmed the same findings as the first. Both tests showed XY chromosomes.

"That does not meet the eligibility requirements for female boxing. After that, the athletes were disqualified, and of course, we informed the IOC about the situation."

Khelif has always insisted that she was born female and has every right to be competing on such a big stage.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS:

After winning gold, she named Donald Trump and JK Rowling in a lawsuit after the pair had questioned the boxer's gender on social media, while Khelif became a national hero back in Algeria.

Kremlev, in the interview, hailed Trump for banning transgender women from competing against biological women in the United States ahead of the next Olympics in 2028. Khelif doesn't fall into that category but scrutiny over the 25-year-old's chromosomes continues to rumble on.

"As you know, Donald Trump signed an order stating that women's sport is for women and men's sport is for men," he added.

"I'm absolutely confident that no one will be able to bypass this at the Olympic Games now, because the rules have become very strict.

Imane Khelif

Imane Khelif became a national icon back in Algeria after winning gold at the Paris Olympics last summer

GETTY

"Everyone is copying us — they're conducting gender tests and are now being forced to do so.

"What we were calling for all along, the rest of the world is finally doing.

"They can't avoid it anymore, because the order has been signed — it's now law in the United States.

"There should be one rule that everyone follows. Gender testing before every event. That's the only way to make sure the fight is fair."