Algerian boxer at centre of 'gender row' at Paris Olympics

Who is Imane Khelaf?

Algerian boxer at centre of 'gender row' at Paris Olympics

Algerian boxer Emane Khelif  is at the centre of  a major controversy at the Paris Olympics over which the boxer's participation in the women's section of the 66kg event  is being questioned.

The Paris Olympic Games 2024  has created a new controversy over boxer Imane Khelif participating in the quadrangular event as a female boxer despite having a male chromosome  . It  started when  Imaine decided to  leave the match after just 46  seconds after Italian boxer Angela Carini 'saved her life'. This is not the first time Imane has been at the centre of such controversy, having previously  been disqualified from competing at the 2023 Championships over gender eligibility issues.

 25-year-old Emane Khalif hails from Tiaret, Algeria and is currently the ambas

sador of UNICEF. Kheliff's father "didn't approve of boxing for girls," but she wanted to inspire the next generation by winning gold medals on the biggest stages.

Khelif made his boxing debut as a professional at  the 2018 World Championships, finishing in 17th  place. In the 2019  edition of the event, she  finished 19th. Khelif  then competed at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, where she was eliminated by Ireland's Kelly Harrington in the quarterfinals. After losing to Amy Broadhurst, Kyliffe finished second at the Women's World Boxing Championships. She  won gold medals at the 2022 African Championships, Mediterranean Games, and 2023  Arab Games in the following years.

What is  the 2023 World Boxing Championships controversy?

It  was at the 2023 World Boxing Championships that Emane Khelif first sparked a gender controversy. Held in New Delhi,  the 2023 World Boxing Championships saw Khelif barred from participating in the event by IBA President Umar Kremlev. "Based on DNA tests, we identified several athletes who tried to pose as women to their partners," Kremlev said in his statement. According to the results of the tests, it was proved that they have XY chromosomes. Such athletes were excluded from the competition.

The Algerian Olympic Committee took a slightly different stance on the abolition of the sport, saying he had been disqualified for "medical reasons. On the other hand, according to Algerian media Reuters, Khellif was declared ineligible for high testosterone levels. Khelif  was not happy with this and said, "There are some countries that did not want Algeria to win the gold medal. This is a conspiracy and a larger conspiracy, and we will not remain silent about it".

IOC on Emane Khelif's Paris Olympics qualification

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said that since Khelo's passport had 'Women' written on it, she is competing in the women's category in the 66kg category . "Everyone competing in the women's category is adhering to competition eligibility rules," she said this week. "They're women in their passports and it's been said that this is the case, that they're women. Some current and former women's boxing champions such as Clarissa Shields and Ebani Bridges have openly criticized the IOC's decision. Meanwhile, the Algeria Olympic Committee (CoA) came out in support of Emane Khalif and criticised the report against her.