The Algeria Olympic Committee has derided the unsubstantiated attacks on boxer Imane Khelif after questions were raised over her participation at the Paris Olympics.
Imane Khelif is one of the two boxers who have been cleared to compete in the Olympics Women’s Boxing.
However, she was disqualified from last year’s Women’s World Championships for failing to meet eligibility criteria along with Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting.
Lin Yu-ting was stripped of a bronze medal at the event, staged in March 2023, after failing a gender eligibility test.
Both Khelif and Lin have been cleared by the IOC to compete in the Paris Olympics 2024.
Khelif will face Italian Angela Carini in a welterweight bout on Thursday while Lin will face Sitora Turdibekova on Friday in the featherweight category.
IBA questions IOC stance
Meanwhile, the IBA has questioned the IOC’s decision to allow both boxers to compete despite being banned by the Association earlier.
The 2023 World Championships, at which Khelif and Lin were disqualified, was organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
However, the Russia-led body was stripped of its status as the sport’s world governing body by the IOC.
The IOC had organized the boxing competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as well as the Paris 2024 Olympics.
IBA in a statement said that the two women boxers were disqualified “to uphold the level of fairness and utmost integrity of the competition”.
The IBA confirmed that the boxers did not undergo Testosterone tests but were subject to a separate and recognized test, details of which remain confidential.
The body added, “This test conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the required necessary eligibility criteria and were found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors”.
The IOC decision has also been questioned by numerous organizations and sports personalities. Italian officials including Sports Minister Andrea Abodi have expressed concerns on the IOC decision to allow boxers to compete. In a statement, Abodi said that even though there is a large degree of suspicion a potentially unfair and dangerous contest has been allowed in the Olympics which is an event that symbolizes fair sports.
Athletes like Australia’s Caitlin Parker have expressed reservations about the potential dangers of competing against athletes with elevated testosterone levels, particularly in combat sports.
Thailand’s Baison Manikon stated that physiological differences could create an unfair advantage.
The Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) has condemned the unsubstantiated attacks on boxer Imane Khelif
In a statement it said,
“COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets. Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics. The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion,”
The Algerian Boxer is also receiving support from several other quarters.
