Olympic Games Paris 2024 has been quite a controversial event, from anti-doping-related racism to discrimination based on medical conditions. Such is also the case of Algerian athlete Imane Khelif, who recently competed against Italian boxer Angela Carini. This conflict has successfully divided social media into two sides. But now the question arises: Which side is supporting the truth? Continue reading to find out all about ‘Who is Imane Khelif?’
Who is Imane Khelif?
Imane Khelif is an Algerian athlete who is fighting in the boxing category at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Many are raising their concerns over the athlete’s win in the boxing fight against her tournament. People are targeting Imane’s gender test failure and using it against the boxer.
Why Did Imane Khelif Fail The Gender Test?
A gender test involves testing a person’s blood to determine their chromosomes, sex hormones, and genes. In this gender test, Imane Khelif was ‘proven‘ to possess the XY chromosome. Hence, she failed the gender test according to IBA.
Who Did Imane Khelif Defeat?
In just 46 seconds, Imane Khelif defeated her opponent, Angela Carini. Khelif’s tactics to defeat Carini were purely based on her strength.
Previously, Carini won a medal at the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Now, she’s publicly known because of the controversy surrounding the recent boxing match.
Angela Carini’s Views About The Defeat
The Italian athlete quit the 66kg preliminary fight in response to Khelif punching her face. She immediately dropped to her knees, started crying, and called the fight ‘unjust.’
Carini also said she has never been punched this ‘strongly’ in her career.
Imane Khelif’s Opponent’s Response To Controversy
Carini appeared to disapprove of her opponent from the moment she was defeated. As recorded on camera, she didn’t even shake hands with her opponent.
Later, Carini revealed that she went to compete in the Olympic games to honor her father. But given the ‘injustice,’ she’s now heartbroken. She also said, “I got into the ring to fight. I didn’t give up, but one punch hurt too much and so I said enough. I’m going out with my head held high.“
Carini Has Changed Her Stance
After the uproar on social media, Carini has softened her stance about the situation. The athlete now says that if the IOC has cleared Imane as a woman, then she respects that decision.
Who Fights Imane Khelif Next?
Khelif is all set to fight in finals with China’s Liu Yang in the women’s 66-kilogram finals on Friday night for the gold medal.
Was Imane Khelif Born Male or Female?
Imane Khelif was born a female, according to the gender assigned to her at birth. Her passport also proves this.
Imane Khelif And Her Country
Imane Khelif’s country, Algeria, is an Arab and Islamic state where homosexuality and being trans is illegal. Contrary to popular belief on social media, Algeria is not progressive. It is still not accepting of the newer ideas. Hence, assuming Algeria sending a trans person to represent them in a global competition does not seem convincing.
Young Pictures of Imane Khelif Have Surfaced
Many have come forward with the utmost support for Khelif. Her fans have dug up pictures of young Khelif dressed in girly attire. This effort was made to allow others to look at the situation from a different perspective.
Information About Imane Khelif’s Family
Imane Khelif’s family is not known publicly. The athlete belongs to a humble background and Algerian family.
Early Life of Imane Khelif
Born in a rural area of Algeria, Imane Khelif had to endure many problems trying her best to keep their passion for the sport alive. Boxing was only sometimes her priority.
During her early years, Khelif was more inclined towards football. Her dedication was off the charts, as she used to commute to a neighboring village to practice. Growing up poor, the financial conditions didn’t support her dream, so naturally, the athlete had to work hard. To collect money, Imane sold scrap material to help pay the bus fare.
Financial issues weren’t the only problem holding her back. Initially, her father wasn’t open to the idea of Khelif boxing because of being a woman.
The Boxing Career of Imane Khelif
The 25-year-old athlete has been in the public eye since 2018. Her first Olympic appearance was at 2021’s Tokyo Games. Khelif lost to her opponent in this match. However, gender concerns were not raised around this decision.
Later, in 2022, she won the African and Mediterranean Championships. Her sheer hard work also reached the finals of the IBA Women’s World Championships.
Sadly, Khelif also reached the finals of the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi, but she was dishonestly disqualified.
Will They Ban Imane Khelif From the Olympics?
No, based on all the statements issued by IOC, Imane Khelif will not be banned from the Olympics. In their official words Imane Khalif is, “born female, was registered female, lived her life as a female, boxed as a female, has a female passport.“
Why Is Khelif Allowed to Compete In the Olympics
As opposed to the general public opinion, Khelif is not trans. She’s a woman with an XY chromosome based on a medical condition. Hence, she can compete in the Olympics in the female boxing category.
Why Did The Fight Last For 46 Seconds?
The fight between Imane Khelif and Angela Carini lasted only 46 seconds. Outsiders tend to believe that is because Khelif is not a ‘woman.’ But many people ignore that Carini abandoned the match, prompting Imane Khelif to take advantage of the situation and throw punches.
When the Italian athlete was questioned about her surrender, she replied that she had to ‘preserve her life.‘
Is Imane Khelif Considered Trans?
No, Khelif does not identify herself as trans or intersex. She’s simply a woman who has DSDs (Disorders of Sex Development).
What Is Imane Khelif’s Medical Condition?
DSDs are a congenital condition affecting the reproductive system. In this disease, the development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex is atypical.
How Has Khelif Reacted To The Controversy?
Khelif has been quite clear about her goal. Her recent statement is precise but shows her determination. The athlete said, “I’m here for the gold—I fight everybody.“
What Is Imane Khelif Age?
Imane Khelif was born on May 2, 1999, in Tiaret, Algeria. As of 2024, she is 25 years old.
International Olympic Committee’s Reaction To This Controversy
Following the uproar caused by the controversy, the International Olympic Committee issued an official statement. It started with, “Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination.“
Their statement made it crystal clear that all current athletes are eligible for their respective sports categories. They compete based on the gender and age specified on their official passports.
The IOC used ‘female athletes’, hence settling the debate. Eligibility rules can not be changed mid-event as they create confusion and are unfair.
The committee has requested that the National Boxing Federations reach a consensus around a new International Federation for future events. This is the essential requirement for boxing to be included as a sport in the Olympic Games LA28.
Has Imane Khelif Gone Through Similar Treatment In The Past?
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Imane Khelif has been discriminated against based on her medical problem.
The athlete qualified for the finals of the 2023 World Championships. However, at the very last moment, IBA disqualified her based on high levels of testosterone in her system.
Before this event, Khelif had qualified for multiple tournaments. But the 2023 World Championships disqualification was quite disheartening for her. This abrupt disqualification came after Khelif defeated the Russian boxer Azalia Amineva.
During the event, IBA was under Umar Kremlev, who was also Russian. Hence, many had their suspicions about the decision.
Past Such Similar Instances In Sports
The South African athlete Caster Semenya has also faced a similar outrage. Her athletic career was looked down upon because Semenya did not fit into the societal expectations of women. However, Semenya identifies as intersex. She has naturally high levels of testosterone, a muscular body, and the presence of XY chromosomes. However, the situation is complicated as she is biologically a woman.
Another outclass athlete, Serena Williams, was also accused of being a male just because of her exceptional performance against a white opponent.
Famous Figures Who Have Opposed Imane Khelif
Sadly, given the current circumstances and the spread of baseless news, many influential figures have spoken up about the issue in a negative light. JK Rowling and Liz Truss are a few of them.
People against Khelif’s win have only argued that the athlete failed the gender test.
Elon Musk has also portrayed the matter negatively. On the other hand, JK Rowling took a picture from the tournament out of context.
Famous Figures Who Have Defended Imane Khelif
Amidst all this, many people and famous figures have spoken in favor of Khelif. For instance, former Team GB boxer Tony Jeffries raised his voice for the athlete and tried to debunk the false rumors spread blatantly about her.
Jeffries supported his statement by giving proof of Khelif’s records. Imane’s record hasn’t always been full of wins. She has lost nine times to multiple women who competed against her in boxing competitions.
American civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo highlighted the possible consequences of the scandal of Imane’s mental health.
Net Worth of Imane Khelif
There’s no confirmed figure about Imane Khelif’s net worth. Khelif’s popularity has recently soared because of the unprecedented controversy. However, now that all eyes are on Khelif, we’ll likely get a figure soon.
Is Imane Khelif Exceptionally Strong?
The fact that Khelif has lost nine times to women before is clear proof of Imane’s not being exceptionally strong. Khelif’s muscular build and facial structure do not convince people of her female gender. However, these obvious differences are only because of her medical condition.
Imane Khelif’s Past Opponent’s Views
Imane Khelif fought against Amy Broadhurst in the 2022 IBA World Championships. Given the current circumstances, she has also come forward with her views. According to her, Khelif is being discriminated against. Broadhurst has made it clear that it is out of Khelif’s control to control her medical condition.
Italian Government’s Response To The Match
Italy’s prime minister, Giorgi Meloni, also spoke up about the issue. According to her, opponents with male-related characteristics shouldn’t be allowed to compete in female competitions.
That was everything you needed to know about ‘Who is Imane Khelif.‘ Remember to bookmark this page for more such Olympic-related news. Stay tuned!
