The Algerian gold medalist says she has “nothing to hide” and vows to defend her title at the 2028 Summer Championships in the US.
Iman Keliff, who won the Parisiolmín Boxing Gold in a gender-qualified line, is determined to defend her title at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, and says she won’t be threatened by President Donald Trump.
“I’ll give you a simple answer, I’m not transgender,” Keriff told ITV in an interview aired Tuesday.
“This has nothing to do with me and it doesn’t threaten me.”
Last month, Trump signed an executive order banning transgender women from women’s sports in the United States, calling Kerif a “male boxer” in his speech.
Under the order signed in February, federal funds will be rejected by educational institutions that allow trans girls and women to participate in women’s sports and use women’s locker rooms.
Trump also said he would promote the International Olympic Committee, which left the issue of transpeople participation in sports to international governing bodies before the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“We hope they change everything that has to do with the Olympics and relate to this absolutely ridiculous subject,” the US president said.
The International Olympic Committee’s executive committee recommended boxing to be included in the 2028 match on Monday, saying Keriff dreams of retaining the title in California.
“Of course, the second gold medal [will] We will defend all of these gold medals,” Keriff said in an interview.
“I believe today Iman Kelif is even more motivated and determined if the old Iman works at 50% of her chances.”
Keriff was disqualified by the International Boxing Association at the 2023 World Championships.
However, the IBA lost awareness of the Olympics on issues of governance, and the International Olympic Committee cleared Kerif to compete in Paris, actively defending its position after intense criticism.
IBA rival World Boxing was given provisional recognition last month as the international governing body of sports.
The recommendation requires final approval by the IOC for sessions in Greece, and President Thomas Bach said he is confident the session will approve it.
“At this point, I can say that the IBA is a thing of the past,” Keriff said. “As we say in Algeria, those who can’t hide should have no fear.”
The debate over the inclusion of trans athletes and athletes with sexual development differences (DSD) in women’s sports is a key issue in the IOC presidential election, with elections set for Thursday.
“I hope that the next president of the IOC leads in true sportsmanship, tackles Olympic principles and supports the value of fair play,” Keriff said.
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