Imane Khelif will step into the ring for a six-round professional bout in Paris against undefeated 21-year-old Dutch opponent Clarida Sarabia, who holds a 4-0 record. The match marks her official comeback following her women's welterweight gold medal triumph during the 2024 Olympic Games. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds her long-term amateur status as World Boxing introduces mandatory sex testing, which Khelif has formally contested. Her coach, Kamel Abdesselam, indicated she has already achieved the ultimate sporting status and will not defend her Olympic title in 2028.
Key points
Khelif has maintained that she will only submit to genetic testing administered directly…: Khelif has maintained that she will only submit to genetic testing administered directly by the International Olympic Committee.
Complaints filed by Khelif against World Boxing regarding gender verification tests have…: Complaints filed by Khelif against World Boxing regarding gender verification tests have left her future Olympic participation uncertain.
Coach Kamel Abdesselam stated Khelif has no interest in returning to the Olympics to defe…: Coach Kamel Abdesselam stated Khelif has no interest in returning to the Olympics to defend her welterweight title.
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Nov 6 : Imane Khelif is set to return to the ring for the first time since winning gold at the Paris Olympics, with the 27-year-old due to fight on December 15 in the same city where she became the Olympic champion.
Algerian Khelif, who was forced out of a professional bout with Julia Igel in April due to injury, will face 21-year-old Dutch boxer Clarida Sarabia in a six-round professional fight, French media said.
The bout with Sarabia, who holds an undefeated 4-0 professional record, was announced at a press conference in Paris on Friday.
Khelif has not competed at official events since winning gold in the women's welterweight division at the 2024 Olympics amid a gender dispute over her eligibility, after the International Boxing Association disqualified her from the 2023 World Championships based on sex chromosome tests.
In a video promoting the upcoming fight, Khelif said she never gave up despite the long absence from the ring.
"Days became weeks, weeks became months. I waited, doubted. But deep inside, the fire never died. Behind closed doors, I kept…
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