Boxer Imane Khelif: The Controversial Case of Olympic

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif made headlines at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning her first match when Italian opponent Angela Carini withdrew after taking several hits in the opening seconds. However, Khelif’s victory has been overshadowed by a controversy fueled by critics misgendering her throughout the Games.

Born in 1999 in Tiaret, Algeria, Khelif has been a dedicated boxer since childhood, consistently competing in women’s categories. She showcased her skills at the Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi in 2018, finishing 17th, and in Russia the following year. Khelif reached the quarterfinals in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and secured second place in the 2022 Women’s World Championships in Istanbul.

Khelif’s career faced a significant hurdle during the 2023 World Cup, organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA). The Russia-led IBA, not recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), disqualified Khelif following a gender eligibility test that allegedly revealed she has XY chromosomes. IBA president Umar Kremlev accused Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who allegedly had a similar test result, of “deceiving their colleagues and pretending to be women.” Khelif has vehemently contested these allegations.

The Olympics Controversy

Despite the IBA’s disqualification, both Khelif and Lin were admitted to the Olympic boxing competitions. The Boxing Unit, responsible for ensuring all athletes meet eligibility, registration, and medical regulations, confirmed their compliance with all necessary rules, including providing verified medical certificates at least three months before the competition.

“These boxers are completely eligible. They are women on their passports, they competed in the Tokyo Olympics, and have been competing for many years. We all have a responsibility to tone it down and not turn it into a witch hunt,” stated IOC spokesperson Mark Adams at a news conference.

Nevertheless, prominent figures on social media criticized Khelif’s participation. Elon Musk amplified a tweet from swimmer Riley Gaines stating, “men don’t belong in women’s sports,” while author J.K. Rowling falsely referred to Khelif as “a male who’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.”

The fact remains that Khelif is competing in the Games because she meets the IOC’s standards. “The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision,” said the Boxing Unit and IOC in a statement, referring to the IBA ban. “[It] was taken without any proper procedure—especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years. Such an approach is contrary to good governance.”

The recent controversy has exploited serious issues like hyperandrogynism—the excessive production of testosterone by female bodies—and intersexuality, where individuals are born with sex characteristics that don’t fit traditional definitions of male or female. This has further complicated the already sensitive debate surrounding transgender women’s participation in sports.

Despite the public outcry, Imane Khelif identifies as a woman and is permitted by the IOC to compete in the Olympics as such. In the face of hostile public opinion, her participation underscores the importance of adhering to established regulations and respecting athletes’ identities.