Who is Imane Khelif: The Algerian Olympic boxer deemed to have male chromosomes

August 1, 2024

Algerian boxer Imane Kherif is currently at the center of a debate over gender eligibility, which intensified after her victory over an Italian female boxer at the Paris Olympics on August 1.

This will be Kherif’s second Olympic appearance – the boxer competed for Algeria at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021. But since then, Kherif has been in the midst of drama.

Here’s what you need to know about Kheriff and the issue.

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Vital Signs

Algeria’s Imane Kherif is pictured ahead of her fight against Italy’s Angela Carini in Paris on August 1, 2024. (Reuters/Isabel Infantes)

Kherif is a 25-year-old boxer from Tiaret, Algeria. Currently a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she grew up in a rural village in Algeria and is open about her passion for boxing. Kherif’s father “did not approve of girls taking up boxing,” she says. To UNICEF.

Kherif was able to start training in boxing by selling scrap metal to recycle.

Boxing career

Algeria national team coach Mohamed Al Shawa assists Imane Kherif before a match against Italy’s Angela Carini at the Paris Olympics on August 1, 2024. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Kherif made his amateur world debut at the age of 19 and placed 17th at the 2018 World Championships sanctioned by the International Boxing Association (IBA), then known as AIBA.

Kherif finished 19th at the 2019 Women’s World Boxing Championships. The Algerian competed in the 2020 Olympic Games, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Ireland’s Kelly Harrington.

However, in 2022, Kherif finished second at the Women’s World Boxing Championships, losing to Amy Broadhurst. Kherif has won gold medals at the 2022 African Championships, Mediterranean Games and the 2023 Arab Games.

The 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championships is a source of controversy for Khelif.

Gender debate

Algeria’s Imane Kherif celebrates after winning a match against Tunisia’s Mariem Homrani Ep Zayan after a match at the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 30, 2021. (Buda Mendes/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

“IBA President Umar Kremlev gave a statement to Russia’s TASS news agency explaining why Heriff was disqualified from the 2023 Championships before he could compete for the gold medal due to gender eligibility issues.

“DNA tests revealed that several athletes had tried to deceive their colleagues by pretending to be women. The tests showed that they have XY chromosomes. They have been excluded from competition,” Kremlyov said.

The Algerian Olympic Committee said at the time that Kherif had been disqualified for “medical reasons”, while Algerian media reported that Kherif had been disqualified due to high testosterone levels, according to Reuters.

“There are some countries that did not want Algeria to win the gold medal,” Kherif told Algeria’s Ennahar TV. “It is a conspiracy, a big conspiracy. We will not be silent.”

The drama is back

Algeria’s Imane Kherif and Italy’s Angela Carini are pictured after a match in Paris on August 1, 2024. (Reuters/Isabel Infantes)

Kherif has qualified for the Paris Olympics, rekindling the debate over the boxer’s gender.

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams attempted to explain the incident.

“All athletes competing in the women’s division comply with the eligibility rules,” he said this week. “They are listed as women in their passports and they are clearly identified as women.”

IBA A new statement was issued Before the Kheriff fight, he explained why the fighter was disqualified.

“On 24 March 2023, the IBA disqualified Lin Yuting and Imane Kherif from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships New Delhi 2023,” the IBA said in a statement. “The disqualifications were due to their failure to meet the eligibility criteria for participation in the women’s competition as set out in the IBA rules. This decision, taken after thorough consideration, was crucial and necessary to maintain the fairness and utmost integrity of the competition.”

“It is noteworthy that the athletes were not tested for testosterone but underwent separate, accredited testing, the details of which are being kept confidential,” the IBA statement continued. “The testing revealed that both athletes did not meet the necessary eligibility criteria and that they had a competitive advantage over other female athletes.”

The IBA said Kherif would undergo two tests, one in 2022 and one in 2023. The IBA said Kherif appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but withdrew his appeal during the proceedings, making “the IBA’s decision legally binding.”

“Our committee rigorously reviewed and approved the decisions taken during the World Championships,” the IBA said. “While the IBA remains committed to ensuring competitive fairness in all our sports, we express concern at the inconsistent application of the qualification criteria by other sports bodies, including the body that oversees the Olympic Games. The IOC’s differing rules on these issues, in which the IBA has no involvement, raise serious questions about both the fairness of competition and the safety of athletes.”

The IOC disagreed. Statement On Thursday, the party defended its qualifications, arguing that Khelib’s party met all the requirements.

“These two athletes were victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. They were suddenly disqualified without due process, as they approached the end of the 2023 IBA World Championships.”

Khelif vs. Kalini

Italy’s Angela Carini is photographed during a match against Algeria’s Imane Kherif in Paris on August 1, 2024. (Fabio Bozzani/Anadolu via Getty Images)

On August 1, Kheriff defeated Italy’s Angela Carini in 46 seconds in the 66 kg class.

Carini was hit in the face and called a timeout to let his coach adjust his headgear, then after a second punch he forfeited the match.

After the match, Carini was seen shouting in Italian at his coach and questioning the fairness of the match, before breaking his silence and explaining why he abandoned the match.

“I went into the ring to fight,” he told Italy’s ANSA news agency. “I wasn’t giving up, but one punch hurt so much that I decided that was enough.”

“I’m going out with my head held high.”

Khelif celebrated his victory on Instagram, posting, “First win.”

Khelif’s boxing record

Algeria’s Imane Kherif competes against Italy’s Angela Carini (not pictured) at the Paris Olympic Games on August 1, 2024. (Fabio Bozzani/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Kherif has a record of 37-9 with five knockouts at the amateur level. Kherif has not lost since fighting Broadhurst in May 2022. His 2023 world championship bout was declared a no contest.