Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer whose gender has been a source of huge controversy, won gold at the Paris Olympics on Friday. Khelif previously failed a gender test, which revealed him to be a man genetically and not a woman.
Khelif defeated China’s Yang Liu on Friday in a 5-0 points decision.
The renewed controversy over Khelif’s gender began with his opening bout, when he mauled Italy’s Angela Carini in a mere 46 seconds. Carini was forced to withdraw and declared the bout “unjust.”
Italy’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni weighed in, saying that “athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions.”
Melonia added that this is necessary “to protect the right of female athletes to be able to compete on equal terms.”
BREAKING: Imane Khelif (XY) dominated World Champion Lang Liu (XX) to win an Olympic gold medal.
Let me repeat that: a MALE has taken a WOMAN'S Olympic gold.
This is what they call this "progress." It's the ultimate betrayal of fairness, safety, and women by @iocmedia. pic.twitter.com/pHw1Ve4uTF
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) August 9, 2024
Khelif was disqualified from last year’s IBA World Boxing Championships for failing a gender eligibility test, after it revealed he possessed male X-Y chromosomes. Khelif has always competed in the female category.
Khelif appealed his disqualification, calling it a “big conspiracy,” but the IBA said the decision was “extremely important and necessary to uphold the level of fairness and utmost integrity of the competition.”
Comment on the victory was brutal.
“Imane Khelif wins first-ever gold medal in freestyle domestic violence,” wrote the Babylon Bee.
On Twitter, swimmer Riley Gaines slammed the International Olympic Committee for allowed Khelif to compete as a woman.
“Imane Khelif (XY) dominated World Champion Lang Liu (XX) to win an Olympic gold medal. Let me repeat that: a MALE has taken a WOMAN’S Olympic gold. This is what they call this ‘progress.’ It’s the ultimate betrayal of fairness, safety, and women by @iocmedia.”
Khelif is not the only boxer competing in the female category at the Olympics whose gender has been disputed. Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting was also disqualified from last year’s World Championships for the same reason. Yu-Ting has already secured a bronze medal and will fight in the semi-finals this coming week.