Imane Khelif Wins Olympic Boxing Gold Despite Gender Controversy
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who found herself at the center of a gender controversy at the Paris Olympic Games, has been crowned the Olympic champion.
Khelif secured a decisive victory against China’s Yang Liu in the women’s welterweight final, winning all three rounds on the judges’ scorecards. Overcome with emotion after the win, she leapt into the arms of her trainer, who then carried the 25-year-old around the arena in celebration.
Khelif faced intense scrutiny after her previous opponent, Angela Carini, withdrew just 46 seconds into their match, citing concerns for her health due to the strength of Khelif’s punches.
Responding to her critics, Khelif had stated that winning the gold medal would be the “best response” to those questioning her right to compete.
Critics argued that Khelif should have been barred from competing due to concerns over potentially elevated testosterone levels, which could enhance strength and muscle mass.
Khelif, along with a Taiwanese boxer, had been banned from the world championships last year by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after failing gender eligibility tests.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) criticized the IBA’s decision as “sudden and arbitrary,” stating that the tests were deeply flawed. The IOC has since suspended the IBA over governance issues, alleged corruption, and its ties to Russia.
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams affirmed that all boxers in Paris met the eligibility criteria, with gender and age determined based on their passports. He noted that both Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting have been competing in women’s boxing for years, with Khelif also participating in the Tokyo Olympics.