Amid the controversy surrounding Imane Khelif’s involvement at the 2024 Games in Paris, the Algerian Olympic Committee have backed their fighter with a strongly-worded statement.
On Thursday, Italian fighter Angela Carini broke down in tears after she abandoned her 66kg women’s boxing match against Algeria’s Khelif, just 46 seconds into the contest.
Carini, who said she had “never been hit so hard” in her life, was punched twice by Khelif in the opening round.
The 25-year-old, who was left with a suspected broken nose, made an attempt to continue following a brief timeout but after speaking to her coaching team, she was caught again seconds later.
Carini then raised her glove again to the referee, signalling her intention to withdraw. Carini later refused to shake Khelif’s hand after the result was confirmed.
Since the welterweight clash on Thursday, there has been a wave of reaction, with particular attention given to Khelif for being disqualified from the Women’s World Championships last year for failing gender eligibility tests.
At the time, International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev said the DNA test showed Khelif to have the male XY chromosome.
Women typically have XX chromosome pairs, and men typically have XY pairs.
Neither Khelif nor Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting – another fighter who was disqualified from last year’s World Championships for failing gender eligibility tests – have ever identified as male, transgender, or as intersex.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which runs the Olympic boxing events, said the disqualification was as a result of elevated levels of testosterone in her system.
And on Thursday, the IOC confirmed that it allowed allowed Khelif to compete in women’s boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics due to her meeting the criteria they set out.
“Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination,” the statement read. “All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU).”
Now, Algeria’s Olympic Committee have backed their fighter with a statement of their own.
The AOC said: “The International Olympic Committee has reaffirmed its commitment to ensure that all athletes participating in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games comply with the eligibility and compliance rules.
“Our team athletes, including our champion, have always adhered to these regulations in all international competitions. We strongly support our heroine and continue to defend her rights as a fair and qualified competition.”
Ahead of Thursday’s contest at the North Paris Arena, Algeria’s Olympic Committee issued a public statement condemning “baseless” attacks on Khelif after questions were raised over her participation at the Olympics.
The statement read: “COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.
“Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics.
“The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion.”
