Fact check: Did Imane Khelif fail gender eligibility test? A look at the Algerian boxer's path to Paris Olympics
Johny Payne
Imane Khelif has vowed to capture Olympic gold in Paris [Image courtesy: @imane_khelif_10 on Instagram]
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) have faced considerable criticism from certain quarters of the socio-political realm. Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting have been permitted to box in the women's division at the 2024 Paris Olympics after a previous suspension.
Leading up to Khelif's 66-kilogram bout against Italy's Angela Carini at the Olympics, Khelif boasted an
amateur boxing record of 36-9 and a pro record of 1-0. Some argued that Khelif shouldn't be permitted to compete in the women's division
at the Olympics.
Carini sustained a few punches and then refused to continue around the 46-second mark of their fight, with
Khelif thereby winning and advancing in the tournament.
Did Imane Khelif fail gender eligibility test?
A recent report by
Reuters alluded to the discussions surrounding Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting's participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The IBA (International Boxing Association) barred Khelif from competing in its women's world boxing championships that took place in New Delhi, India, in March 2023.
The ban came mere hours before she was to compete in a gold medal bout against China's Yang Liu. Additionally, Lin Yu-ting was stripped of her bronze medal. The actions against Khelif and Lin were because of claims they'd failed the IBA's eligibility criteria.
It was reported that Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting failed the IBA's gender eligibility test, which doesn't allow athletes with XY chromosomes to compete in the women's division. Khelif deemed the disqualification as
a plot to prevent an Algerian boxer from winning. As for the IOC, it stated that Khelif was barred due to elevated testosterone levels.
In June 2023, the IOC stripped the IBA of its right to govern international amateur boxing owing to the IBA's alleged failure to reform certain financial, ethical, and governance-related issues.
Accordingly, the IOC took over the reins of regulating amateur boxing, governed the sport during last year's Tokyo Olympics, and is overseeing the sport during the Paris Olympics.
Since the IOC's rules permit the inclusion of athletes with gender diversity and DSDs (Differences of Sexual Development), it has allowed Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting to compete at the Paris Olympics.
The term DSD implies a set of rare conditions related to an individual's reproductive organs, genes, and hormones. Certain people with DSDs are raised as females. Nevertheless, they have male-like blood testosterone levels, the ability to utilize the testosterone in their bodies, and XY chromosomes that are usually found in a person who's a cisgender male (i.e., assigned male at birth).
On the contrary, a person who's a cisgender female (i.e., assigned female at birth) has significantly lower testosterone levels and has XX chromosomes. As opposed to cisgender females, cisgender males go through male puberty and generally possess an advantage in regard to skeletal structure, muscle mass, and faster twitch muscle.
These differences give the average male a notable advantage against an average female in athletic performance, especially in a boxing match or other combat sports contests.
As reported by NBC, Khelif and Lin haven't publicly identified as transgender or intersex.
A few athletes like Imane Khelif and
Zambia's Barbra Banda, a prominent women's football player, reportedly deal with DSD. Incidentally, Banda also competed at the Paris Olympics and recently delivered a
historic performanceagainst Australia.
Current and former female boxing champions such as
Claressa Shields and Ebanie Bridges
have lambasted the IOC for its ruling. Meanwhile, the COA, which is the Algerian Olympic Committee, has lent its support to Imane Khelif and condemned the reports against her as
"baseless propaganda."
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have faced considerable criticism from certain quarters of the socio-political realm.
www.sportskeeda.com
Khelif was born with a vagina, identifies as female, and has lived as a female her entire life.
She also happens to have a medical condition that naturally boosts her testosterone levels and gives her an XY chromosome. There is nothing nefarious about her being allowed to compete- she has a naturally occurring medical condition that gives her an athletic advantage against other women.