The Algerian boxer Imane Khelif won a gold medal at the Olympics, which sparked major controversy both during and after the tournament.
Recently, reports have surfaced alleging that the boxer has XY chromosomes. Imane Khelif has denied these claims and announced that she will take legal action against these reports.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressed its sadness over the abuse directed at the 25-year-old boxer. In a statement, the IOC said,
“All the athletes who participated in the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 complied with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, together with all the applicable medical regulations enacted by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit.”
Khelif, who previously competed in the Tokyo Olympics and won a silver medal, points out that such allegations did not arise at that time. This controversy intensified especially after her opponent, Angela Carini, withdrew 46 seconds into their match.
Regarding the situation, Khelif made the following statements:
“I am fully qualified to take part in this competition. I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman. I have lived as a woman. I competed as a woman – there is no doubt about that.”
