A women’s rights group has called for Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to be stripped of her Olympic gold medal, citing gender concerns.
A women’s rights organization has made headlines by demanding that Imane Khelif’s Olympic gold medal be taken away.
This demand follows claims from an unverified medical report suggesting that Khelif may be “biologically male.”
The situation has sparked a debate over gender and eligibility in sports.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif sparked debate during the 2024 Olympics over her gender eligibility.
Imane Khelif, a 25-year-old Algerian boxer, won gold in the women’s welterweight division at the recent Paris Olympics.
Algeria celebrated her victory, but it also sparked controversy.
Khelif faced criticism and scrutiny during the Games, particularly related to questions about her gender identity.
The report that has stirred up this controversy claims Khelif has male characteristics and XY chromosomes.
However, the report’s validity has not been confirmed.
Endocrinologist Jacques Young, a reported co-author of the report, said that others are misusing his name to spread misinformation.
Women’s Rights Group calls for Imane Khelif’s Olympic gold medal to be revoked over her gender
The Independent Council on Women’s Sport (ICONS), co-founded by Kim Jones, is at the center of the call to strip Khelif of her medal.
Jones argues that Khelif’s case illustrates a serious problem in sports governance.
She stated, “We agree that the medal and all awards should be taken away and given to the best performing female athlete.”
Jones believes the IOC heads and the Algerian team should hold themselves accountable for their roles.
Jones added: “Sanctions and penalties should be imposed to hold accountable those – including the heads of the IOC and the Algerian team – who put women at serious risk through deception and loss of their performances.
“This case is a perfect example of what goes wrong when leadership is too fearful or too uninformed to do its job.”
Khelif’s win in Paris was notable. They had barred her from participating in the IBA-sanctioned Women’s World Boxing Championships the previous year.
Despite this, the IOC had cleared her to compete in the Olympics.
This decision has raised further concerns among some groups about fairness in women’s sports.
Imane Khelif and Angela Carini’s match caused controversy as it ended in just 46 seconds
The controversy deepened when Khelif’s second-round opponent, Angela Carini, retired just 46 seconds into their match.
Carini cited pain and emotional distress, claiming she had never faced such a powerful punch.
This incident added fuel to the ongoing discussions about Khelif’s strength and eligibility.
Khelif has faced significant backlash online and in the media since her victory.
Olympic champion takes legal action against false allegations of her gender
In response to the harassment, she has taken legal action against those who have targeted her with abusive comments.
The IOC has indicated that they will not comment on the matter while legal proceedings are ongoing.
“We understand that Imane Khelif has taken legal action against individuals who commented on her situation during the Olympic Games Paris 2024,
and is also preparing a lawsuit in response to the latest reporting,” an IOC spokesperson said.
In addition, the Algerian Olympic Committee has condemned the attacks on Khelif, describing them as unfounded.
They believe these allegations aim to damage the reputation of an athlete who has brought pride to their nation.
“These attacks, often based on unsubstantiated allegations, aim to tarnish the image of an athlete who has brought honor to our nation on the international stage.
“We firmly condemn these attempts at destabilization, which have no place in the world of sports,” the Algerian Olympic Committee said.
Khelif’s father has also defended her, stating, “My child is a girl. She was raised as a girl.”
The IOC has reiterated that Khelif has been competing in women’s boxing for many years, including at the Tokyo Olympics.
They also emphasized that they will not comment on unverified documents or ongoing legal matters.