After the controversy that accompanied her during all her fights, being questioned about her gender, Imane Khelif finally won the gold medal after beating, in the 66 kilogram category, the Chinese Liu Yang, who was also questioned about her gender.
The Algerian boxer was the subject of a campaign against her participation in the Olympic Games by the International Boxing Association (IBA), an organization disqualified by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for its irregularities.
Read also: Imane Khelif Will Compete for the Gold Medal Despite the Controversy at the Olympic Games
According to the IBA, they had evidence that both Imane Khelif and Liu Yang have XY chromosomes and high levels of testosterone, more than normal for women, so they were unfairly accused of being men, violating their human rights.
#Gold medal for Algeria! 🇩🇿
Congratulations to Imane Khelif, clinching first place in boxing women’s 66kg. 🥊#Boxing | #Paris2024 | #Samsung | #TogetherforTomorrow pic.twitter.com/KRx4BnmFDN
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 9, 2024
Between back and forth, throughout their participation in Paris 2024, they were questioned about their gender and that they were fighting with an advantage over other female boxers.
Imane Khelif Will Be Remembered Not Only For Her Historic Gold Medal
While the IBA continued to claim – without proof to show – that both boxers are men, the International Olympic Committee dedicated itself to protecting them by pointing out that they were born, raised and compete as women and have women’s passports.
Furthermore, in the case of Imane Khelif, sex change is prohibited in Algeria and is punishable by law, so it is practically impossible for the boxer to have made such a change.
Experts have indicated that Imane Khelif suffers from hyperandrogenism, a condition that causes excess androgens in the body and among other symptoms, causes the body to generate more testosterone than normal. Currently, the Algerian boxer identifies as a cisgender woman, that is, a person who was assigned the female gender at birth and who identifies and expresses herself as such.
