Two years after her run to gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Imane Khelif is making a return to the ring.

Khelif, who took gold for Algeria at the Paris Games amid international scrutiny due to her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships, has not fought since the Olympics.

She is set to make her return in December in Paris, sharing a promotional video for her bout on Tuesday.

Here's what to know about Khelif's return to the ring.

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Imane Khelif boxing comeback

Khelif is scheduled to return in December for a bout against undefeated fighter Clarida Sarabia in Paris.

Initially, Khelif planned to make her professional debut in Paris in April 2026, but that bout was postponed due to a left shoulder injury while training.

Now, on Dec. 15, she is set to face Sarabia at the Maison de la Mutualite.

"I've waited, I've doubted, but deep inside, the fire never dies," Khelif said in a video on Instagram. "And, now, I'm back."

Imane Khelif Olympic boxing controversy

Khelif was at the center of controversy during her run to Olympic gold in 2024 due to misconceptions over her sex and prior disqualification from the 2023 world championships.

In 2023, the International Boxing Association — which no longer governs Olympic boxing —banned Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting due to reported failed gender eligibility tests. However, both still competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, going on to win gold medals, because the IOC ran the Olympic boxing tournaments; under the IOC's sex eligibility rules, Khelif and Lin were eligible to compete. 

In 2025, World Boxing took over as the sport's governing body and implemented a sex eligibility policy requiring all fighters to take a one-time genetic test for events sanctioned by the organization. World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst later apologized to the Algerian federation after initially naming Khelif specifically in the announcement about the new tests.

Khelif reportedly appealed the World Boxing decision in August 2025, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed her attempt to suspend the decision.

In a February 2026 interview with CNN, Khelif said that she has high levels of testosterone, which she has been reducing under medical supervision.

MORE: What to know about 2024 Imane Khelif Olympics controversy