IN what is shaping up to be the biggest gender controversy at the 2024 Olympics, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s participation has reignited a fierce debate over gender eligibility in sports. The controversy surrounding Khelif, reminiscent of the longstanding dispute involving South African runner Caster Semenya, has thrust the issue of Differences in Sexual Development (DSD) in athletes back into the global spotlight.
Khelif, who failed a gender eligibility test at last year’s International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships, was nonetheless cleared to compete in the Paris Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Her swift victory over Italian boxer Angela Carini, who withdrew after sustaining several powerful blows, has only intensified scrutiny and debate.
Amidst the storm of controversy, Khelif’s father, Amar, staunchly defends his daughter. Speaking from their modest home in Tiaret, he told Reuters, “Having such a daughter is an honour because she is a champion, she honoured me and I encourage her.” He proudly shared official documentation of Khelif’s birth, stating, “May 2, 1999, Imane Khelif, female. It is written here you can read it, this document doesn’t lie.”
The case highlights the complex intersection of biology, gender identity, and competitive fairness in sports. While the IBA’s rules prevent athletes with XY chromosomes from competing in women’s events, the IOC, now in charge of Olympic boxing, maintains that inclusion should be the default position.
As Khelif prepares to face Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in the women’s welterweight quarter-finals, the controversy shows no signs of abating. Meanwhile, in Tiaret’s boxing club, where Khelif’s image adorns the walls, young female boxers like 17-year-old Bouchra Rebihi continue to draw inspiration from their embattled champion.
This developing story underscores the ongoing challenges faced by sports governing bodies in balancing fairness, inclusion, and the complexities of human biology on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
