Boxer Imane Khelif, whose gender eligibility has been under scrutiny, was overcome with emotion after securing a welterweight medal at the Paris Olympics by defeating Hungarian Luca Anna Hamori.
Khelif, an Algerian athlete, is one of only two boxers participating in Paris despite being banned from last year’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) due to alleged issues with gender eligibility. This decision has sparked significant controversy.
At 25, Khelif’s previous match lasted only 46 seconds, but on Saturday, cheered on by a supportive Algerian crowd, she fought the full three rounds, winning by unanimous decision. An emotional Khelif shared her joy with BBC sports editor Dan Roan: “I feel good. This is the first medal in women’s boxing for Algeria – I’m very happy. I want to thank everyone around the world and the Arab world – thank you so much.”
Before the match, Hamori expressed concerns about the fairness of Khelif’s participation but maintained a positive spirit throughout the bout. Following the fight, the two competitors embraced, and Hamori commented, “It was a very hard day for both of us, but I want to say it was a great fight. I wish Khelif good luck in the future, and thank you so much.”
When pressed about the perceived unfairness, Hamori, who faced boos from the crowd, responded, “I don’t care about it.”
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune took to social media shortly after the fight to express support: “You have honored Algeria, Algerian women, and Algerian boxing. We will stand by your side, regardless of the results. Good luck in the upcoming rounds.”
Khelif is set to face Janjaem Suwannapheng, who defeated top contender Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey, in the semifinals on Tuesday. Even if she does not win, Khelif will leave the Paris Games with a bronze medal.
Amid ongoing debate, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has strongly supported Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting. IOC President Thomas Bach assured earlier on Saturday that there was “never any doubt” about their gender.
Khelif had reached the finals of last year’s World Championships before being disqualified by the IBA—a Russian-led organization suspended by the IOC in 2019 due to concerns over its finances, governance, ethics, refereeing, and judging. The IBA cited Khelif’s failure to meet the eligibility criteria for women’s competition, while the IOC criticized the lack of due process in her disqualification.
On Saturday, the IBA announced it would hold a press conference on Monday to provide a detailed explanation for Khelif’s and Lin’s disqualifications.
Controversy Criticized
Yacine Arab, sports manager for the Algeria National Olympic Committee, dismissed the controversy as a “joke.” He refuted claims that Khelif might have differences in sexual development (DSD), similar to runner Caster Semenya. Arab asserted, “When she arrived at the village, she underwent all required tests. If she had tested positive, she wouldn’t have been allowed to compete. All tests, including pregnancy tests, were negative.”
He continued, “The IBA claimed her testosterone levels were very high, but the IOC’s medical president noted that elevated testosterone levels are normal in boxing. Khelif is not unique in this regard. The controversy is ridiculous. Everyone knows Imane was born a girl and has competed as a girl her entire life. This issue only arose when she started winning.”
