Gender row boxer Imane Khelif guaranteed Olympics 2024 medal after reaching semis following win over outspoken rival
IMANE KHELIF is guaranteed an Olympic medal after her quarter-final win over Anna Luca Hamori.
The Algerian star has been at the centre of a gender row at the Paris Olympics.
Khelif, 25, was able to put that behind her as she smashed her past the Hungarian by winning each round on points.
She is now guaranteed to win an Olympic medal in the women’s 66kg, having made it to the semi-finals.
This is because even if she loses in the semi-final, she will win a bronze medal along with the other loser.
Hamori, 23, had spoken out about Khelif’s participation in the event before the fight.
She said: “In my humble opinion, I don’t think it’s fair that this contestant can compete in the women’s category.
“But I cannot concern myself with that now. I cannot change it, it’s life.
“I can promise you one thing… I will do my best to win, and I will fight as long as I can!”
After Khelilf was named the winner, she was overcome with emotions she could be seen in tears as she left the ring.
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The controversy over her participation came to the forefront after her previous opponent, Angela Carini, abandoned their bout after 46 seconds.
Carini revealed she had never been hit harder – sparking controversy and a gender eligibility storm.
IOC and Paris 2024 Boxing Unit statement in full
A look at the full statement issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit...
Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination.
All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU). As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport.
These rules also applied during the qualification period, including the boxing tournaments of the 2023 European Games, Asian Games, Pan American Games and Pacific Games, the ad hoc 2023 African qualifying tournament in Dakar (SEN) and two world qualifying tournaments held in Busto Arsizio (ITA) and Bangkok (THA) in 2024, which involved a total of 1,471 different boxers from 172 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the Boxing Refugee Team and Individual Neutral Athletes, and featured over 2,000 qualification bouts.
The PBU used the Tokyo 2020 boxing rules as a baseline to develop its regulations for Paris 2024. This was to minimise the impact on athletes’ preparations and guarantee consistency between Olympic Games. These Tokyo 2020 rules were based on the post-Rio 2016 rules, which were in place before the suspension of the boxing International Federation by the IOC in 2019 and the subsequent withdrawal of its recognition in 2023.
We have seen in reports misleading information about two female athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The two athletes have been competing in international boxing competitions for many years in the women’s category, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships and IBA-sanctioned tournaments.
These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process.
According to the IBA minutes available on their website, this decision was initially taken solely by the IBA Secretary General and CEO. The IBA Board only ratified it afterwards and only subsequently requested that a procedure to follow in similar cases in the future be established and reflected in the IBA Regulations. The minutes also say that the IBA should “establish a clear procedure on gender testing”.
The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.
Such an approach is contrary to good governance.
Eligibility rules should not be changed during ongoing competition, and any rule change must follow appropriate processes and should be based on scientific evidence.
The IOC is committed to protecting the human rights of all athletes participating in the Olympic Games as per the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics and the IOC Strategic Framework on Human Rights. The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently receiving.
The IBA’s recognition was withdrawn by the IOC in 2023 following its suspension in 2019. The withdrawal of recognition was confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). See the IOC’s statement following the ruling.
The IOC has made it clear that it needs National Boxing Federations to reach a consensus around a new International Federation in order for boxing to be included on the sports programme of the Olympic Games LA28.
Khelif was disqualified from last year’s Women’s World Championships for failing to meet eligibility criteria.
The International Olympic Committee said she was disqualified after failing a testosterone level test.
But she was cleared to fight in the Olympics with IOC President Thomas Bach defending her inclusion, saying: “We are talking about women’s boxing.
“We have two boxers who are born as a woman, who were raised as women, who have passport as woman who have competed for many years as women. This is the clear definition of a woman.”
In Algeria, the law does not allow people to transition between genders.
Khelif has never identified as a man, transgender, or intersex which refers to people who have male and female sex characteristics.
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who has also previously failed eligibility tests, will also be fighting in the Paris Olympics.
Khelif has received the support of boxer Amy Broadhurst.
The Irish star responded to people on social media and pointed out that nine females had beaten the Algerian in the past.
She said: “Have a lot of people texting me over Imane Khelif, personally I don’t think she has done anything to ‘cheat’.
“I think it’s the way she was born, and that’s out of her control.
“The fact that she has been beaten by 9 females before says it all.”
Khelif has had 51 fights in her career, winning 42, with six of the victories being by knockout while she lost the other nine.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Max Whitlock goes for an unprecedented fourth consecutive medal on the pommel horse (4.10pm)
Our dressage team can claim another gold at the equestrian (9am) after gold, silver and bronze at the last three Games.
Team GB will want to retain the 4x100m mixed relax relay (8.33pm) in the pool and Jake Jarman goes in the men’s floor gymnastics final (2.30pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
Tom Pidcock gets back in the saddle after his epic mountain biking gold with the men’s road race (10am).
It is the last day of rowing with GB in with a chance of more medals – especially in the men’s and women’s eights (10.10am).
GB take on Argentina in their final women’s pool game in the hockey (9am).
And Tommy Fleetwood continues his charge towards golfing gold, co-leading at -11 after a seven-under yesterday (10.44am).
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
US sprinter Sha-Carri Richardson and Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson will battle it out for women’s 100m sprint gold – with Dina Asher-Smith hoping to keep pace (8.20pm).
We also get a first look in the heats at 100m men’s stars Americans Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman who will battle with Zharnel Hughes for glory (10.45am).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
Badminton often slips under the radar at the Olympics but is always incredible viewing with lightning-quick reactions.
The women’s doubles final features four of the best players in the world as Indonesia face China (3.10pm).
STATS MAD
6 – As of Saturday morning, only six athletes have won the same individual event at the Olympics four times. Katie Ledecky could join that prestigious list – which features Carl Lewis and Michael Phelps – in the 800m freestyle (8.09pm). Vincent Hancock could also do it in the skeet shooting today (2.30pm).
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.