Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has found herself at the heart of a heated debate about gender in sports after her Italian competitor, Angela Carini, withdrew from their bout at the Paris Olympics. The controversy has drawn criticism from conservative figures such as former U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. Khelif’s past disqualification from the 2023 world championships, due to unspecified and opaque eligibility tests for women’s competition from the now-banned International Boxing Association (IBA), has fueled the controversy.
Khelif was assigned female at birth, as confirmed by her passport, which meets the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) criteria for boxing eligibility. Despite this, she has become a subject of scrutiny. Khelif is a formidable athlete with a proven track record in top international boxing events, including major amateur tournaments over the past six years, such as the Tokyo Olympics. While she has won regional gold medals, Khelif was not known for her dominance, physical prowess, or punching power until her recent win in Paris.
Her 46-second victory over Carini, with the Italian boxer’s emotional withdrawal, led to numerous depictions of Khelif as an unstoppable force whose strength posed a threat to her opponents. This portrayal, however, is inaccurate and contradicts the reality of Olympic-style boxing.
Born in 1999 in rural northwestern Algeria, Khelif’s journey to professional boxing was not easy. Her father initially opposed her participation in the sport, but Khelif’s passion for boxing led her to abandon soccer and train diligently, traveling 10 kilometers each way to the gym. She eventually caught the attention of Algeria’s national team, making her major tournament debut in 2018. While she initially faced challenges, Khelif consistently improved and rose through the ranks.
Khelif was among the first three Algerian female boxers to compete in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She won her first bout but lost to eventual gold medalist Kellie Harrington of Ireland. She further gained recognition by performing well in subsequent world championships and becoming a UNICEF national ambassador earlier this year.
However, Khelif’s journey was abruptly interrupted when she was disqualified from the 2023 world championships by the IBA, citing high testosterone levels. The circumstances surrounding this disqualification have been shrouded in controversy, with Khelif labeling it a “big conspiracy.” She had competed without issues before this incident and was disqualified only after defeating Russian boxer Azalia Amineva in the tournament.
The IBA, under the leadership of Umar Kremlev, a Russian national, has been criticized for its lack of transparency and questionable practices. The organization has faced significant backlash for its close ties to Russian state-owned energy supplier Gazprom and for relocating its operations to Russia. The IOC has condemned the IBA’s actions, describing the disqualification of Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan as “a sudden and arbitrary decision without any due process.”
The reasons for these disqualifications remain unclear, with the IBA providing limited information about the nature of the tests conducted. This lack of transparency has drawn criticism, particularly given the IBA’s ban from the Olympics since 2019. The IOC has stated that the IBA’s internal documents reveal that the decision to disqualify the athletes was made unilaterally by the IBA’s secretary general.
Despite the controversy surrounding Khelif’s eligibility, figures like Trump, Meloni, and J.K. Rowling have voiced their disapproval of her participation. The Italian far-right, known for its stance against LGBTQ+ rights, has seen Khelif’s participation as an example of “woke” culture infiltrating sports. Meloni, in a meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach, warned against the dangers of “ideology” taken to extremes, suggesting it can harm women’s rights.
The IOC, however, has dismissed the claims of misinformation surrounding the issue, emphasizing that there is no scientific or political consensus on gender and fairness in sports. The organization has provided updated guidance to sports governing bodies, with several bodies, including World Aquatics, World Athletics, and the International Cycling Union, implementing stricter eligibility rules for athletes who have transitioned from male to female.
Despite Carini’s unusual withdrawal, Khelif’s opponents do not view her as an unbeatable force. Her upcoming opponent, Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary, expressed confidence in her ability to compete against Khelif. Khelif is a medal contender, though she is not yet considered to be at the same level as defending Olympic champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey or 2023 world champion Yang Liu of China.
Opinions on Khelif’s presence in Paris vary, often influenced by the prevailing narratives outside the athletes’ village. Some, like Marissa Williamson Pohlman of Australia, who lost to Khelif in a previous match, acknowledged Khelif’s strength but emphasized that the focus remains on winning. Others, like Amy Broadhurst, an accomplished Irish amateur boxer, have voiced support for Khelif, arguing that her physical attributes are beyond her control and that she has been defeated by female opponents in the past.
The controversy surrounding Imane Khelif underscores the complex interplay of sports, gender, and politics. As Khelif continues to compete in Paris, the debate surrounding her participation is likely to intensify, raising questions about the future of gender inclusivity in sports.
