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Olympic gender row boxer Imane Khelif showed off a new custom-made Chanel outfit as she attended Paris Fashion Week for the first time on Monday.
The Algerian athlete rose to global prominence after winning gold at the 2024 Pairs Olympics, but her inclusion at the Games sparked controversy amid claims that she had allegedly failed a gender eligibility test the previous year.
Following the controversy at last year's Olympics, World Boxing have since confirmed that fighters will be required to undergo mandatory sex screening to compete in their events, leading to scores of women being barred from participating at the amateur World Championship in Liverpool this year.
Khelif, who has not competed since the tests have been introduced, has taken her fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to compete without being tested — and has turned her hand to fashion in the meantime.
The boxer, 26, arrived at Paris Fashion Week with confidence as she watched the Chanel Womenswear Spring/Summer 26 show from the front row on Monday.
A video shared on social media showed Khelif exiting a black saloon car wearing a custom silk trouser suit from Chanel, which is understood to cost upwards of £4,000.
Olympic gender row boxer Imane Khelif visited Paris Fashion Week for the first time on Monday
The Algerian fighter showed off a new custom-made Chanel outfit at Paris Fashion Week before watching the Chanel Womenswear Spring/Summer 26 show from the front row
The 26-year-old rose to prominence during her controversy gold medal campaign in Paris
As the Algerian strutted her stuff in the Jacquard-inspired monochrome loungewear look, she smiled at the droves of photographs eager to capture her first appearance at Paris Fashion Week.
Her visit to the semi-annual event came just days after she was unveiled as the face of Bel*nco, a fashion brand with roots in her native country.
Unveiled on Instagram, an image of Khelif was accompanied by a message, 'the champ is here' and a caption, which read: 'Confidence takes the stage. We are proud to announce Khelif as the face of BEL*NCO.
'She embodies strength, resilience, and grace. The perfect reflection of what skin with attitude truly means.'
Last month, Khelif insisted that she had not retired from boxing, despite reports to the contrary stemming from her former representative Nasser Yesfah.
Khelif wrote on Facebook: 'I would like to make it clear to the public that the reports of my retirement from boxing are false.
She then said Yesfah had 'betrayed (her) trust and (her) country with his false and malicious statements'.
The boxer, 26, was unveiled as the face of a new beauty campaign for Algerian brand Bel*nco
Last month the 26-year-old fighter was forced to confirm that she had not retired - despite claims she had in reports put out by her former representative who had 'betrayed' her
'This person no longer represents me in any way,' she said.
'I have never announced my retirement from boxing. I remain committed to my sporting career, I train regularly and I maintain my physical condition between Algeria and Qatar in preparation for upcoming events.'
The new rules brought in by World Boxing state that fighters must take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or functional medical equivalent genetic screening test to certify their eligibility to fight.
These tests are carried out through testing saliva, blood or a nasal or mouth swab.
Those deemed to be male at birth with a Y chromosome or with a difference where male androgenisation has taken place, will not be eligible to compete with women.
The president of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst said: 'World Boxing respects the dignity of all individuals and is keen to ensure it is as inclusive as possible, yet in a combat sport like boxing, we have a duty of care to deliver safety and competitiveness fairness which are the key principles that have guided the development and creation of this policy.'
