IBA tells Imane Khelif to return Olympic gold medal, Internet says 'this is exactly what should happen'

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND: Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has been urged by International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev to return her Olympic gold medal to the rightful winner after being banned from competing in the women’s category.

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Italian boxer Angela Carini walked away from her bout with Khelif just 46 seconds in, raising questions about Khelif's gender and her eligibility to compete in the women's division.

IBA President Umar Kremlev tells Imane Khelif to return her Olympic gold medal

In June 2025, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was banned from competing in the female category, after which IBA President Umar Kremlev brought forward new allegations against her.

Kremlev expressed support for President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports and praised other countries for "finally doing what we were calling for all along."

He said, "They can't avoid it anymore."

Most recently, Kremlev called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to strip Khelif of her 2024 Olympic gold medal and award it to the rightful winner.

According to GB News, Kremlev said, “No, I am not satisfied. I truly believe that a medal should be truly deserved. We must protect athletes and give them the best conditions.”

He added that the medal should go to the "real female owner."

“I am here for truth, transparency, and openness. And now the truth has been revealed. There should be no unfair fights in boxing, and the international federations should take care of their athletes,” Kremlev stated.

Moreover, Kremlev claimed that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is "surrounded" by corruption and has violated several "good sporting principles."

“The IOC is not fighting for fairness in sport. The IOC is giving away medals based on their political interests. Imane Khelif should be made to return the Olympic medal from Paris,” Kremlev told the Daily Mail.

Interestingly, this is not the first time the IBA and Khelif have been embroiled in controversy.

In 2023, the Algerian boxing star was banned from competing in the World Championships amid claims she failed a gender eligibility test.

Although the tournament was run by the IBA, the association later had its status as a governing body revoked by the IOC.

Khelif also became a target of Trump following her gold medal win. The President challenged the claim that Khelif was a biological woman, insisting she was not.

The 26-year-old responded to the President and said, “The US President issued a decision related to transgender policies in America. I am not transgender. This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me.”

Internet agrees with IBA asking Imane Khelif to return Olympic gold medal

Several internet users sided with the IBA after it called on Imane Khelif to return her Olympic gold medal to the rightful winner following her ban from the female category.

One user wrote on X, “Good. The last thing the world needs is a sport where men beat up women and get cheered as a hero for it,” while another added, “This is, of course, exactly what should happen.”

One person stated, “Every woman that had to step into that ring with Khelif should press charges of assault through the French courts,” while another commented, “He shouldn’t have been allowed to box women in the first place.”

Another user wrote, “Yay! He didn’t win that medal, he stole it. Anyone who can do this is not a good person and shouldn’t be encouraged,” while one commented, “If you cheat biology, you don’t deserve the medal. Women’s sports are under attack, and this is why we fight.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.