Imane Khelif, fresh from her Olympic triumph in Paris, has confirmed she is considering becoming a professional boxer just months after winning a gold medal.

The Algerian sensation has faced a storm of controversy during her Olympic journey, after being barred from the World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) following gender eligibility tests. A case for which, notably, no irrefutable evidence has been presented.

At just 25 years old, Khelif not only made history by winning Algeria’s first gold medal in women’s boxing with her resounding 5-0 victory over Yang Liu in the women’s 66kg category, but she is also became the center of contention as the Games progressed.

Angela Carini dramatically bowed out of their bout after less than a minute, visibly distressed and forgoing the customary post-match handshake, although she later expressed regret over the controversy that followed .

In August, an emotionally damaged Khelif revealed the extent of the vitriol directed at her, as widespread speculation about her gender marred the Olympic experience.

After her triumph in Paris, the Algerian is now aiming for a new challenge in the ring: becoming a pro. Speaking to the media on Sunday, she said: “I would like to hold a press conference today to share with you my success story with the media family and young women who look up to me.

“A documentary is being prepared about my success and it will be broadcast on international platforms. I will soon enter the world of professional boxing, I have many offers. Currently, I have not yet decided where I will enter professionally. boxing But very soon I will take this step, we, as Algerians, would like to see our level in the field of professionalism.

Earlier in the month, there was a wave of false reports that Khelif had been stripped of her Olympic glory, prompting the World Boxing Organization to strongly clarify the situation. Online speculation suggested the 25-year-old had been disqualified and was facing a lifetime ban from the WBO.

However, given its amateur status, such sanctions would be largely beyond the purview of the governing body.

“The World Boxing Organization has informed that it has not tested or banned boxer Imane Khelif, who won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics boxing tournament in Paris, France,” confirms its official press release.

WBO Legal Advisor Gustavo Olivieri, Esq. clarified: “Reports claiming that the WBO has banned Khelif are obviously false. We have had no communication with Khelif. We congratulate her and wish her well in all her future endeavors.”

He further emphasized: “Any reports to the contrary are blatantly false and ill-intentioned. »