Have a look at the religion and gender history of Imane Khelif
Algeriaโs Imane Khelif, has became a subject of online troll and criticism after winning a match against Italian boxer Angela Carini, on Thursday at the Paris Olympics 2024.
For the unversed, Angela Carini quit her 66 kg womenโs category bout against Imane Khelif, handling the latter a win in the opening round.
Is Alegrian boxer Imane Khelif married, does she have a husband or boyfriend and what is her religion and gender history
The 25-year-old Algerian boxer, who was previously banned from competing in the world championships due to failures in testosterone and gender eligibility tests, secured this historic victory within just 46 seconds in the match as Carini abandoned the game after a very few punches were thrown, which is a rare occurrence in Olympic boxing.
The win of Imane Khelif, drew adverse comments from prominent figures like JK Rowling and Elon Musk, who took to social media questioning Khelifโs gender. So, letโs find out more information about the Algeriaโs professional boxer.
About Imane Khelif
For the unfamiliar, Khelif who is a Muslim by religion and is a biological female since, was born on May 2, 1999, in Tiaret, Algeria and is an Algerian boxer. She came to light after she represented her nation in Tokyo Olympics 2020. Khelif is single and unmarried.
Growing up in a rural village in Tiaret Province, Khelif, originally played football prior to opting boxing. In her early days, she had to commute to neighboring village to attend boxing training sessions.
Could any picture sum up our new menโs rights movement better? The smirk of a male whoโs knows heโs protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman heโs just punched in the head, and whose lifeโs ambition heโs just shattered. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Q5SbKiksXQ
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 1, 2024
Reports indicates that her father initially didnโt allowed her to participate in sports as he didnโt โapprove of girls boxing.โ
Gender Controversy Explained
For the unversed, at the Paris Olympics 2024, the professional boxer became the subject of false claims and rumors that she is a male-to-female transgender woman. These claims emerged online after she won a bout against Italyโs Carini, within just 46 seconds.
However, let us remind you, Algeria is an Islamic country that prohibits gender transition and committing gender transition is illegal there.
To address these viral claims, the IOC and Paris Boxing Unit, both published a joint statement affirming her eligibility to participate in the tournament and in the category and described these false news as misleading.
Imane Khelif is said to have DSD (Disorders of s*x development) and an individual with the condition has an imbalance in reproductive parts, genes, and hormones. Individuals like Imane Khelif are raised as females but they possess male testosterone and XY chromosomes in their body due to the condition, and their body use it accordingly. This could be the reason behind her having an increased level of testosterone despite being a female by birth.
Isnโt it interesting how at the 2020 Olympics, when Imane Khelif lost to Kellie Harrington ๐ฎ๐ช in the quarterfinals, literally no one accused her of being a man?
Itโs almost as if brain dead right wing morons will hope on any conspiracy theory train pic.twitter.com/jH290S4L4K
— Algeria FC (@Algeria_FC) August 1, 2024
What Did IOC Say?
After witnessing many comments in social media criticizing the Olympian, IOC forced to come out to back Imane Khelif. In a statement, the IOC said that all athletes participating in the tournament comply with the โcompetitionโs eligibility and entry regulations,โ adding that all athletes comply โwith rules 1.4 and 3.1 of the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit.โ
Imane Khelif is BORN WOMAN.
She is NOT a man.*The right to change their gender is illegal and banned in Algeria, the country she represents.*
Indians have harassed and harangued Shanthi Soundarrajan, a brilliant sportswoman, just because she didnโt look the way they expect aโฆ pic.twitter.com/JzYvTNgTVV
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) August 2, 2024
They further added that, โThese rules also applied during the qualification period, including the boxing tournaments of the 2023 European Games, Asian Games, Pan American Games and Pacific Games.โ
Let us remind you, Imane Khelif, is scheduled to fight on Saturday at 4:22 p.m. BST.