In the wake of a heated gender eligibility controversy, Imane Khelif’s father, Omar Khelif, has come forward with a passionate defense of his daughter.
Imane Khelif’s father has strongly defended his daughter.
The dispute follows Khelif’s recent Olympic bout and her disqualification from last year’s Women’s World Boxing Championships.
The fight between Imane Khelif and Angela Carini sparked a gender controversy
Imane Khelif, competing in the women’s 66kg category, faced a significant challenge when she was disqualified from the 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi. The disqualification was due to her failure to meet the gender eligibility criteria established by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Despite this setback, Khelif was cleared to compete in the women’s boxing category at the Paris Olympics, along with Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting.
The Algerian Olympic Committee has defended Khelif, emphasizing their support for her as a qualified athlete. They stated, “We strongly support our heroine and continue to defend her rights as a fair and qualified competitor.”
In a recent round of 16 bout against Italy’s Angela Carini, Khelif’s opponent abandoned the match after just 46 seconds, citing pain and discomfort.
Angela Carini expressed her distress after abandoning the fight just 46 seconds
Angela Carini, who withdrew from the match, expressed deep emotional distress following her exit.
She described the pain as severe, stating, “It hurt so much. I am heartbroken. I went to the ring to honor my father, but I had to stop for my health. I have never felt a punch like this.”
Omar Khelif defended his daughter, Imane Khelif, despite the gender controversy she faced
In a recent statement, he expressed his frustration, saying, “The attacks against her are immoral, it is not fair. Imane has loved sports since she was six years old. These critics aim to destabilize her and prevent her from becoming the champion she aspires to be.”
He urged his daughter to prove her critics wrong and to bring honor to Algeria and the Arab world. “I hope she will honor Algeria and Tiaret and win the gold medal. She is our role model,” he added.
To counter the accusations, Amar Khelife produced an official document from May 2, 1999, confirming that his daughter was born female. This document was intended to affirm her gender and counteract the controversy surrounding her participation.
Later, Carini expressed regret over the controversy and apologized for her actions.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport’, she said, “All this controversy makes me sad. I’m sorry for my opponent too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision. It wasn’t something I intended to do. Actually, I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke.”
The ongoing debate surrounding Imane Khelif’s eligibility and performance continues to provoke strong reactions.
Both her father and the IOC continue to support Imane Khelif amid the gender controversy.