Khelif Vows to Fight Back Following Legal Action

Imane Khelif, the Olympic boxing champion, declares that she's never let adversity keep her down and pledges to fight back after a lawsuit.

Imane Kehlif won Olympic boxing gold at Paris 2024 amid a gender eligibility row; Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting were the subject of an eligibility row last summer between the International Olympic Committee and the International Boxing Association

Imane Khelif has denounced "false and offensive" accusations from the International Boxing Association.

The IBA revealed this week that it will file criminal complaints against the International Olympic Committee in the United States, France, and Switzerland.

The Swiss-based IOC allowed female boxers Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting to compete and win gold medals in Paris last year, which "may serve as grounds for criminal prosecution," the IBA claimed.

"I have been knocked down more times than I can count. But I have never stayed down," Khelif said on Instagram.

"We will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that my rights and the principles of fair competition are upheld.

"Those responsible for these actions must be held accountable, and we will pursue all available legal avenues to ensure that justice prevails."

The Russian-led IBA has been banished from the Olympics but it cited an executive order on transgender athletes by United States President Donald Trump to justify the criminal complaints.

Khelif said the IBA has "again made baseless accusations that are false and offensive, using them to further their agenda. This is a matter that concerns not just me but the broader principles of fairness and due process in sport."

The IOC has consistently said the boxers from Algeria and Taiwan, who were assigned female at birth and identify as women, complied with all the rules for the Olympic tournament. Both also competed in Tokyo in 2021 and did not win medals.

Khelif and Lin were disqualified from the 2023 world championships run by the IBA, which said they failed eligibility tests.

"The two female athletes mentioned by IBA are not transgender athletes," the IOC reiterated on Monday.

"I have seen adversity before," Khelif said.

"I have fought through every setback, every false accusation, every attempt to erase me. And I have won. Each obstacle has only strengthened my resolve. I will continue to compete with honour and integrity."