{"id":359059,"date":"2025-08-20T09:17:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T09:17:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/359059\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T09:17:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T09:17:16","slug":"olympic-champion-boxer-imane-khelif-shows-off-a-dramatic-new-feminine-makeover-after-opening-up-on-difficult-phase-with-boxer-yet-to-return-after-introduction-of-mandatory-sex-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/359059\/","title":{"rendered":"Olympic champion boxer Imane Khelif shows off a dramatic new feminine makeover after opening up on &#8216;difficult phase&#8217; &#8211; with boxer yet to return after introduction of mandatory sex testing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Olympic boxing champion\u00a0Imane Khelif has revealed a new look after opening up on a &#8216;difficult&#8217; phase in her career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Khelif had been one of two boxers at the centre of a gender eligibility storm at last year&#8217;s Paris 2024 <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/olympics\/index.html\" id=\"mol-b19da370-7d96-11f0-915e-d9b40002a046\" rel=\"noopener\">Olympics<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The Algerian had been deemed eligible to compete at the Olympics, despite the International Boxing Association previously disqualifying the fighter and\u00a0<a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/taiwan\/index.html\" id=\"mol-f21bc7d0-409f-11f0-9c5b-3b00e070b691\" rel=\"noopener\">Taiwan<\/a>&#8216;s <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/lin-yu-ting\/index.html\" id=\"mol-f1dc26c0-409f-11f0-9c5b-3b00e070b691\" class=\"class\" rel=\"noopener\">Lin Yu-ting<\/a>\u00a0from their World Championships in 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The former governing body for the sport had claimed\u00a0Khelif and Lin had failed gender eligibility tests, leading to their disqualification.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Both fighters would ultimately go on to win gold medals in women&#8217;s boxing events at Paris 2024, with Olympic bosses coming under fire amid the controversy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Since the Olympics, the new governing body World Boxing have confirmed fighters will be required to undergo mandatory sex screening to compete in their events.<\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-e3306ec3a7f28d5b\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101381643-15016801-image-m-60_1755676206760.jpg\" height=\"454\" width=\"306\" alt=\"Imane Khelif has revealed her makeover\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>    <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-b7307a18d499ef0c\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101381653-15016801-image-a-61_1755676212052.jpg\" height=\"454\" width=\"306\" alt=\"The Olympic boxing champion is yet to return to the ring one year on from claiming gold\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>  <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Imane Khelif has revealed her makeover with the Olympic boxing champion still yet to return to the ring<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-2a186d754259eaa2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101381643-15016801-image-a-62_1755676289656.jpg\" height=\"1119\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Khelif was pictured alongside Algerian presenter and podcast host\u00a0Nassima Djaffar Bey\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Khelif was pictured alongside Algerian presenter and podcast host\u00a0Nassima Djaffar Bey<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Khelif skipped her comeback event in the weeks following the announcement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The alleged 2023 medical test that claimed the boxer was &#8216;biologically male&#8217; was leaked in June, leading to some to call for the boxer to be stripped of the Olympic gold medal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A report on the medical test allegedly seen by 3 Wire Sports said that &#8216;chromsome analysis reveals male karotype&#8217; &#8211; an XY chromosome pair.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">On Tuesday, Khelif showed her latest makeover after being pictured with television host and podcaster Nassima Djaffar Bey.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Djaffar Bey shared a photo on Instagram with Khelif, who appeared with make-up and flowing hair, with the caption \u2018Always a pleasure\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Khelif last week admitted to going through a &#8216;difficult phase&#8217;\u00a0in a cryptic Instagram post, which was shared on the one year anniversary of winning Olympic gold.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;It was an unforgettable moment a moment where my tears mixed with the awe of pride, a moment where my country\u2019s flag soared high, and I held my head up with the strength of a boxer and the heart of a human,&#8217; Khelif wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Today, on the anniversary of that triumph, I\u2019m going through a difficult phase filled with challenges, silence, and waiting\u2026<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-84913cae35285e8e\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101381651-15016801-image-a-63_1755676335343.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Khelif won Olympic gold in Paris last year amid a gender eligibility row which overshadowed the competition\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Khelif won Olympic gold in Paris last year amid a gender eligibility row which overshadowed the competition<\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-6b44abb85db434d6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/98960649-15016801-The_boxer_has_been_engulfed_in_controversy_since_news_of_her_all-a-64_175567645405.jpeg\" height=\"516\" width=\"306\" alt=\"The boxer has been engulfed in controversy since news of her alleged failed test in Paris\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>    <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-75444ac5b17b5c8f\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/98960643-15016801-The_boxer_underwent_a_dramatic_makeover_for_a_social_media_video-a-65_175567645405.jpeg\" height=\"516\" width=\"306\" alt=\"The boxer underwent a dramatic makeover for a social media video in the wake of her win\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>  <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The boxer has been engulfed in controversy since news of her alleged failed test emerged during the Olympics<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;But despite everything, the spirit that fought for gold still beats within me.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I still believe that every fall is a prelude to a stronger rise, and that every delay carries within it a test of faith and willpower.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;True strength lies not only in victory, but in perseverance against all odds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;I am Imane Khelif a champion yesterday, resilient today, and determined to return tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Thank you to everyone who still believes in me\u2026 And to myself, thank you for never giving up.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Khelif has yet to return to the ring since winning Olympic gold with the Algerian skipping a proposed comeback event at the\u00a0Eindhoven Box Cup &#8211; just days after\u00a0mandatory sex testing was introduced.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">World Boxing&#8217;s new policy requires all athletes over the age of 18 to undergo a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) genetic test to determine their sex at birth and their eligibility to compete.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">During the controversy last summer,\u00a0Khelif&#8217;s father produced an alleged birth certificate during the Olympics which recorded the boxer as female.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-386b672cf8f2b7a\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101382037-15016801-image-a-67_1755676579315.jpg\" height=\"429\" width=\"634\" alt=\"\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>  <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Khelif admitted going through a &#8216;difficult phase&#8217;\u00a0 on the anniversary of winning the gold medal<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Amid calls for Khelif to be stripped of the Olympic title, International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry confirmed in June that there would be no retrospective action on the result.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Coventry&#8217;s declaration came after the newly elected IOC president had\u00a0announced the formation of a working group tasked with safeguarding women&#8217;s sport.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;There was overwhelming support that we should protect the female category,&#8217; Coventry said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;We understand that there will be differences depending on the sports. But it was fully agreed that, as the IOC, we should place emphasis on protection of the female category.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Khelif had earlier this year revealed plans to compete at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with the Algerian looking to move up a weight category for the Games.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Olympic boxing champion\u00a0Imane Khelif has revealed a new look after opening up on a &#8216;difficult&#8217; phase in her&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":359060,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4108],"tags":[1935,92,63536,7126,93,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-359059","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-boxing","8":"tag-boxing","9":"tag-dailymail","10":"tag-imane-khelif","11":"tag-olympics","12":"tag-sport","13":"tag-sports","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115060346066684659","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/359059","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=359059"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/359059\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/359060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=359059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=359059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=359059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}