Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has been the target of an online bullying campaign questioning her gender and accusing her of “being a man participating in women’s sports.” Here are the facts:
The controversy gained traction after Khelif’s opponent, Italian boxer Angela Carini, forfeited just 46 seconds into their bout. “I went into the ring to fight. I didn’t surrender, but one punch hurt too much and I said that’s enough,” Carini said.
Public figures such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and former US President Donald Trump have criticized Khelif’s participation in the Olympics, fueling an intense online bullying campaign against her.
Disqualification by IBA:
On March 24, 2023, the International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified Khelif along with fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi 2023.
The IBA stated, that this disqualification was due to the athlete’s failure to meet eligibility criteria for participating in the women’s competition.
The examination revealed that the athletes did not undergo a testosterone examination.
“This test conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the required necessary eligibility criteria and were found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors,” the IBA added.
IOC Support:
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was informed of the IBA’s decision and issued documents detailing the decision. However, the IOC allowed both athletes to compete and strongly supported their participation in the Olympics.
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams stated that Khelif “was born female, was registered female, lived her life as a female, boxed as a female and has a female passport.” Algeria, Khelif’s country of origin, only recognizes male or female gender, and she was assigned female at birth.
The IBA document detailing the controversy noted that DSD athletes (“differences of sexual development”) are not allowed to compete in boxing competitions because “they were found dangerous for the health and security of the boxers,” according to the IOC.
The IBA’s tests, which resulted in Khelif’s disqualification in 2023, remains confidential, so the exact details of the decision are unknown.
Future Competitions:
Despite the controversy, both Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting will continue to compete in the semi-finals of 2024 Paris Olympics. Khelif is set to face Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng on August 6, while Yu-ting will box Turkey’s Esra Yıldız Kahraman on August 7.