Heartbroken father of Imane Khelif’s forced to show birth certificate as critics question boxer’s gender
Imane Khelif's father finally settles Olympics gender row by revealing official documents before 2024 Paris Olympics boxing semis.
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Was Imane Khelif born female? Father breaks down Paris Olympics fact or fiction (Source: Instagram/X)
‘Alleged trans’ boxers Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif have permission to compete in Paris from the IOC. But that does not come that easy. The IBA DQed both boxers from last year’s World Championships failing gender eligibility tests. Khelif specifically came under deeper scrutiny when her opponent Angela Carini quit, fearing her power. Now, as she advances to the semifinals of the women’s boxing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Khelif’s father has spoken out about the situation.
Algeria’s Khelif won her round-of-16 clash against Italy’s Carini in the women’s — 66kg category. Carini had quit in just 46 seconds on Thursday, preferring to stop for health concerns. IBA president Umar Kremlev has reacted positively to the visual of Carini sobbing and breaking down, even vowing to take care of her with an added clinical purse. Meanwhile, it has sparked a row over Khelif’s eligibility issues.
My child is a girl. She was raised as a girl. She's a strong girl, ...I raised her to be hard-working and brave. She has a strong will to work and to train...he Italian opponent she faced was unable to defeat my daughter because my daughter was stronger and she was softer.Omar Khelif to Sky News; H/T: skysports.com/boxing
Imane Khelif won her Women’s (—66kg) Quarter-finals live at 11:22 ET against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori. Before the matchup, a lot of non-eligibility innuendoes were hurled at her. The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ad-hoc Boxing unit rules clearly state that she was born a woman and was hence eligible for the Paris Olympics. However, many jumped the gun on her failing gender eligibility test pools last year.
Even others outside the spectrum of the sport had pitched in. Gabrielle Union, who shared a trans daughter with former NBA flame Dwyane Wade spoke out against the blatant transphobia, even if that were the case. As it turns out, IOC president Thomas Bach assured that it’s not, Thursday, in a media availability round, he said Khelif was born and competed as a woman for many years at an end. The politically-motivated claim has pushed it too far.
Imane Khelif’s father rips blatant claims over gender row
In consultation with the IOC’s Medical and Scientific Commission, many have voiced their distrust of Imane Khelif. Especially if she exhibits signs of DSD (differences in sex development), she has been in the heat of things ever since her first-round boxing fight with Italian rival Angela Carini ended quickly. Carini did later apologize for her post-fight breakdown, telling Gazzetta dello Sport that if the IOC renders her opponent a female, she agrees.
Now, Omar Khelif threw some more weight to the debate, proving his daughter was born a female. Per Mail Online (›dailymail.co.uk/news), he provided an official document dated May 2, 1999. In a scathing take-down of the gender eligibility innuendos, he even spoke about Khelif’s dreams.
The attacks against her are immoral, it is not fair...Imane is a little girl that has loved sport since she was six-years-old, she used to play football. These critics and rumours aim to destabilise Imane, they don't want her to be the champion of the world. I tell her prove them wrong in the ring and I hope that she will honour Algeria and Arabic countries and win the gold medal. She is our role model.Omar Khelif further said to Sky News
The Algerian Olympic committee for Paris 2024 Games further released statements on the matter. Per an official statement, the International Olympic Committee has issued a final apology to violators and standing orders to delete social media slanders on Khelif. Hungary’s Olympic Committee (MOB) had objected to Imane Khelifs’ participation in the Games. Given her straightforward skill-to-skill win against Hamori, MOB is yet to make any further claims.
In case you missed it:
- “Not the one to talk about violence” – Andrey Rublev trashed by fans after his message criticizing Imane Khalif goes viral
- “Glorified male violence” – Internet ERUPTS as gender-test failed Imane Khelif makes female opponent quit in 46 seconds at Paris Olympics
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