Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif Triumphs with Olympic Gold

Fans of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif celebrated in Paris on Saturday after the fighter won a medal at the Paris Olympics, following days of harsh criticism and online abuse as assumptions about her gender erupted into a bigger dispute over identity in sports.

Khelif defeated Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary 5:0 in the quarterfinals of the women’s 66-kilogram category.

Khelif will win at least a bronze medal after easily securing her second victory of her difficult second Olympic appearance.

Khelif faced outrage after the International Boxing Association, which has been banned from the Olympics since 2019, said she failed an undefined eligibility test to compete last year due to excessive testosterone levels.

She won her opening bout at the Paris Games on Thursday when opponent Angela Carini of Italy tearfully abandoned the fight after just 46 seconds.

That unusual ending became a sharp wedge to drive into an already prominent divide over gender identity and regulations in sports, drawing comments from the likes of former U.S. President Donald Trump, “Harry Potter” writer J.K. Rowling and others falsely claiming Khelif was a man or transgender.

At a Paris Games that has championed inclusion and seen other outcry over an opening ceremony performance featuring drag queens, LGBTQ+ groups say the hateful comments could pose dangers to their community and female athletes.

Khelif’s second win in Paris appeared to be an emotional catharsis for the 25-year-old boxer from a village in northwest Algeria.

After her hand was raised in victory, Khelif went to the center of the ring, waved to her fans, knelt and then slammed her palm on the canvas, her smile turning to tears.

She exited the ring to hug her coaches while her fans screamed, crying during their embrace and as she walked away.

Hungary’s boxing association announced Friday that it would contest the match against the International Olympic Committee but would still allow the fight to take place.

After the fight, Hungarian IOC member Balazs Furjes stated alongside Hamori that it was “never an option… not to fight.”

Furjes delivered an ambiguous statement in which he commended both Hamori and the IOC while signaling Hungary was not entirely satisfied.

Earlier Saturday, IOC President Thomas Bach defended Khelif and Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting.

The IBA, the old regulatory body of Olympic boxing, banned Khelif and Lin in the middle of last year’s world championships, citing failed eligibility tests.

Both had competed in IBA events for several years without problems, and the Russian-dominated body — which has faced years of clashes with the IOC — has refused to provide any information about the tests, underscoring its lack of transparency in nearly every aspect of its dealings, particularly in recent years.

Khelif, who failed to medal at the Tokyo Games three years ago, will face Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand in the 66-kg semi-finals Tuesday at Roland Garros.