Who is Imane Khelif? All About The Algerian Olympic boxer who failed a gender eligibility test

Imane Khelif  is an Algerian amateur boxer. She represented Algeria in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[2]

Early Life

Imane Khelif grew up in a rural village in Tiaret Province, in northwestern Algeria.

Initially a football player, she switched to boxing and had to commute to a neighboring village for training.

To afford the bus fare, she sold scrap metal. Her father initially disapproved of her participation in sports, especially boxing.

Career Beginnings and Olympic Debut (2018–2021)

Khelif began her boxing career with modest results, finishing 17th at the 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and 33rd in 2019.

She represented Algeria in the women’s lightweight event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, where she was defeated in the quarterfinals by Ireland’s Kellie Harrington.

2022: IBA Championships Final and Boxing Successes

In 2022, Khelif made history by becoming the first Algerian female boxer to reach the final of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.

She finished as the runner-up, losing to Amy Broadhurst. Later that year, she won gold at the Mediterranean Games, the Arab Games, and the African Amateur Boxing Championships.

2022–2023: IBA Championships Disqualification

In March 2023, Khelif was disqualified from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships final due to high levels of testosterone.

The Algerian Olympic Committee stated she was disqualified for medical reasons, which were later linked to high testosterone levels. This led to speculation that Khelif might have a congenital condition causing a disorder of sexual differentiation.

Khelif appealed the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport but later withdrew it, making the IBA’s decision legally binding. The IBA later stated that Khelif and others were found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors.

2024: Summer Olympics

In January 2024, Khelif became a UNICEF national ambassador. The IBA was banned from organizing the 2024 Summer Olympics boxing tournament due to governance issues, and the IOC managed the boxing events instead

. The IOC cleared Khelif to compete, confirming her compliance with all eligibility and medical regulations.

Khelif advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s welterweight event after defeating Italy’s Angela Carini in 46 seconds.

She faced significant online backlash, with false claims suggesting she was a transgender woman or a man.

Public figures like J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk criticized her and the IOC on social media. The Algerian Olympic Committee defended Khelif, condemning the baseless propaganda against her and reaffirming her right to compete.