Boxer embroiled in gender controversy wins Olympic gold
Algerian welterweight boxer Imane Khelif secured a gold medal following a gender controversy. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif clinched Olympic gold this Friday by defeating China's Yang Liu in the women's welterweight boxing final during the Paris Games. Her win was shrouded in controversy regarding questions about her eligibility based on gender.
Khelif delivered a commanding performance, securing victories in each round of the competition. However, her participation was contentious due to her previous disqualification from the Women’s World Boxing Championship held in New Delhi because of gender eligibility issues based on DNA testing results. At that time, Umar Kremlev, the president of the International Boxing Association (IBA), stated, "proved they had XY chromosomes and were thus excluded from the sports events."
Despite past controversies, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed Khelif, alongside Lin Yu-ting from the Chinese Taipei team, to compete in Paris earlier this year. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams remarked last week that all participants “comply with the eligibility rules,” raising doubts about the validity of last year's tests.
This month, Khelif caught the world’s eye again following her quick victory over Italian boxer Angela Carini in a preliminary match, finishing the fight in just 46 seconds. This performance ignited outrage online, with many accusing the Algerian athlete of having male traits due to the previous test failures.
The issue resonated politically and publicly with significant figures expressing their opinions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni commented on the match between Carini and Khelif, stating, "athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions." Likewise, British author J.K. Rowling and American entrepreneur Elon Musk have also labeled the competition as unfair.
The IBA has had a strained relationship with the IOC, leading to its suspension in 2019 over various problems including governance and ethical concerns, and its exclusion from the boxing events at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Tensions have mounted as the IBA, under the leadership of Kremlev, recently permitted Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national symbols amidst international sanctions. The IOC stripped the IBA of its recognition last year after it failed to undertake required governance and financial reforms, leading to the IOC managing the boxing event at the current Paris Olympics.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
Khelif delivered a commanding performance, securing victories in each round of the competition. However, her participation was contentious due to her previous disqualification from the Women’s World Boxing Championship held in New Delhi because of gender eligibility issues based on DNA testing results. At that time, Umar Kremlev, the president of the International Boxing Association (IBA), stated, "proved they had XY chromosomes and were thus excluded from the sports events."
Despite past controversies, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed Khelif, alongside Lin Yu-ting from the Chinese Taipei team, to compete in Paris earlier this year. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams remarked last week that all participants “comply with the eligibility rules,” raising doubts about the validity of last year's tests.
This month, Khelif caught the world’s eye again following her quick victory over Italian boxer Angela Carini in a preliminary match, finishing the fight in just 46 seconds. This performance ignited outrage online, with many accusing the Algerian athlete of having male traits due to the previous test failures.
The issue resonated politically and publicly with significant figures expressing their opinions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni commented on the match between Carini and Khelif, stating, "athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions." Likewise, British author J.K. Rowling and American entrepreneur Elon Musk have also labeled the competition as unfair.
The IBA has had a strained relationship with the IOC, leading to its suspension in 2019 over various problems including governance and ethical concerns, and its exclusion from the boxing events at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Tensions have mounted as the IBA, under the leadership of Kremlev, recently permitted Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national symbols amidst international sanctions. The IOC stripped the IBA of its recognition last year after it failed to undertake required governance and financial reforms, leading to the IOC managing the boxing event at the current Paris Olympics.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
