Imane Khelif in Tears After Securing Medal at Paris Olympics Amid Gender Controversy
Despite facing intense scrutiny and online abuse due to misconceptions about her gender, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif maintained her composure to secure a medal at the Paris Olympics on Saturday. Khelif dominated Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori with a commanding 5-0 victory in the quarterfinals of the women’s 66kg bout. This win guarantees her at least a bronze medal, marking her second victory in what has been a tumultuous Olympic journey.
Khelif’s campaign has been marred by international scrutiny, especially after her bout against Italy’s Angela Carini, who withdrew from the fight just 46 seconds in. This incident was followed by claims from the now-banned International Boxing Association (IBA) that Khelif had failed an unspecified eligibility test for women’s competition last year. The withdrawal and the IBA’s allegations fueled international outrage and highlighted the ongoing debate over gender identity and regulations in sports.
After her victory over Hamori, Khelif bowed to the fans and, overwhelmed with emotion, broke down in tears as she embraced her team.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach had previously defended Khelif, along with fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, amid the controversy. Both Khelif and Lin were disqualified during last year’s world championships by the IBA, the former governing body of Olympic boxing, after it claimed they failed eligibility tests for women’s competition.
Both athletes had competed in IBA-sanctioned events for years without issue. The IBA, which has long been embroiled in conflicts with the IOC over issues such as judging scandals, leadership decisions, and financial mismanagement, refused to provide details about the tests, raising concerns about its transparency. The IBA, which was banned from Olympic participation in 2019, alleged that Khelif was disqualified due to elevated testosterone levels but did not release further details, citing confidentiality.
