Olympics 2024: Who is Imane Khalif, the boxer in midst of gender row? Doc says she has ‘no competitive edge’
Imane Khalif has become the target of politicians, and rabble-rousers and has become the focus of one of the most polarised cultural debates — the inclusion of trans people in sports.
After the Algerian boxer defeated her Italian counterpart, Angela Carini in the boxing ring at the Paris Olympics, her victory sparked a global outrage as she was assumed to be a trans woman.
Khelif emerged victorious when Carini conceded merely 46 seconds into their welterweight match after enduring several blows to the face. Following Carini's Round of 16 bout in Paris, the Italian Prime Minister criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC), stating, «Given the testosterone levels in the Algerian athlete's blood, it’s evident that the competition was unfair from the beginning.» In a social media post, American politician Donald Trump promised to ban men from women's sports.
Is Khelif Transgender?
Khelif was disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after failing a gender eligibility test. Her participation in the Paris Olympics has sparked significant debate. British politician Nadia Whittome posted on X: “Imane Khelif was assigned female at birth. She has previously shared that her father initially banned her from boxing, believing it wasn’t suitable for girls. The criticism she faces highlights that transphobia affects not only transgender individuals but also women who defy traditional gender norms.”
Khelif has not yet commented on the issue, but there is speculation that she has a Disorder of Sex Development
