The scandal surrounding controversial Algerian boxer Imane Khelif continues to grow after the director of the Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee spoke out on the matter. Yassine Arab claimed that Khelif had been attacked by ‘the Zionist lobby’ and ‘shadowy forces,’ as reported by The Jewish Chronicle.
‘The Zionist lobby, they want to break Imane’s spirit. But now Imane is very strong. They don’t want a Muslim girl or an Arab girl to rise higher in the ranks of female boxing,’ Yassine claimed in his antisemitic accusations. ‘We are all here for Imane. You can see the support from everyone around the world. All the international press associations support Imane,’ he added.
As reported by Hungarian Conservative, Khelif’s attendance at the 2024 Paris Olympics has caused significant controversy due to her physique, movement, and strength, which are considered much more masculine than those of her fellow competitors. Khelif is one of two boxers allowed to compete in the women’s tournament despite being excluded from last year’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing to comply with gender eligibility criteria. IBA President Umar Kremlev explained that a test performed on the
two athletes indicated that they have XY chromosomes,
characteristic of biological males, thus disqualifying them as women. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allowed them to compete in the Olympics.
It is also important to note that the IBA never provided any evidence to support its claims, although some media reports have suggested that Khelif has a Difference of Sexual Development (DSD) disorder, which could explain why she has XY chromosomes.
The IOC defended Khelif and her counterpart, Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, stating that their exclusion from the World Championships by the IBA was unjust and without due process. The IOC emphasized that the boxers are listed as women in their passports, have competed in IBA women’s events for years, and meet all Olympic eligibility criteria. They further clarified that participation criteria cannot be altered mid-competition.
Khelif competed in the women’s 66 kg category, where her first opponent was the Italian Angela Carini, who withdrew after 40 seconds. Carini claimed she had quit to ‘save my life’ when the Algerian boxer hit her so hard she could not breathe. ‘This, from my point of view,
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated after the fight.
Khelif’s next opponent was Luca Hámori of Hungary, a match the Algerian won by unanimous decision. Before the match, the Hungarian Olympic Committee (HOC) emphasized in its statement that while it respects the IOC’s rules, it stands firmly for gender equality and fair competition for female athletes. The committee reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights and interests of Hungarian Olympians, continuously examining legal avenues to ensure Luca Hámori’s right to a fair competition.
The controversy surrounding Khelif sparked a huge outcry from conservatives around the world, with many, including Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling, speaking out against the Algerian boxer’s participation in the Olympics. Former US President Donald Trump promised to keep men out of women’s sports, sharing a clip of the match between Khelif and Carini. Other Republicans also quickly expressed outrage over the incident, taking to X to condemn Khelif’s involvement. Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene each weighed in, with Greene calling Khelif ‘a fraud, an imposter, and a liar.’
After defeating Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand 5:0 in the semifinals, Khelif will compete for the gold medal in the final against Chinese boxer Yang Liu.
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