Despite being biologically female, Imane Khelif, an athlete with masculine traits, has been the subject of widespread interest at the Paris Olympics. This unique situation has caught the attention of sports enthusiasts and garnered global scrutiny.
The number of individuals seeking information about Imane Khelif is on the rise. While some claim that she was initially male and later transitioned to female, scientific findings refute this assertion, suggesting that her condition may be the result of a chemical imbalance.
The world’s leading boxing match
The last 16 rounds of the women’s boxing event at the Paris Olympics were more heated due to an incident involving Imane Khelif.
The match between Italy’s Angela Carini and Algeria’s Imane Khelif paved the way. This match, which attracted the attention of many, was limited to a few seconds.
It is also an unexpected situation that Algeria’s Imane Khelif, known as a biologically male person, will participate in this event. The match between Imane Khelif and Angela Karini was held for a short period of 46 seconds.
Imane Khelif’s hard punches
During the intense 46-second bout, Angela Karini found herself on the receiving end of a severe attack by Imane Khelif.
Overwhelmed by the situation, Karini made the difficult decision to withdraw from the competition, ultimately granting victory to Imane Khelif.
Karini’s emotional display of distress in the boxing ring drew the attention of many onlookers.
In a post-match interview with the media, Karini tearfully expressed that she had never experienced such relentless blows in her entire boxing career.
With tears in her eyes, she emphasised the need for a thorough reevaluation of the incident.
Chemical composition close to men
Imane Khelif, a female boxer with high levels of testosterone, faced scrutiny due to her biological makeup.
Despite being born female, her genetic composition led to elevated testosterone levels, which sparked controversies in her participation in women’s boxing events.
This issue came to a head when the referees decided to disqualify her from the Women’s World Championship Boxing Tournament, held the previous year, alongside Taiwan’s Lin Whiting.
The decision was attributed to their atypical testosterone levels, which were considered to be more aligned with those of men.
This ruling raised questions about the inclusivity of transgender and intersex athletes in sports, drawing attention to the complex intersection of biology, gender identity, and athletic performance.
The problem caused by the cancellation of the membership of the International Boxing Federation
In the meantime, the World Boxing Federation expressed concerns that the participation of athletes with exceptional strength, such as Imane Khelif and Lynn Whiting, was creating an unfair advantage for other female boxers.
These concerns prompted discussions around the fairness and inclusivity of competition within the sport.
Furthermore, the International Olympic Committee’s decision to revoke the membership of the International Boxing Federation due to administrative and financial issues had significant implications.
This decision led to a revamp of the criteria governing boxing in the upcoming Olympics. The International Olympic Committee took charge of developing new guidelines as a direct response to the challenges faced by the International Boxing Federation.
Testosterone Test
There has been controversy regarding the new rules on testing women’s testosterone levels for certain sporting events, particularly in the context of the International Olympic Committee’s decision to allow two players to participate in the Paris Olympics 2024 based on the criteria of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
They have undergone tests and been selected for the tournament. This decision has sparked different opinions, with some criticising the inclusion of Imane Khelif in the women’s division, while others argue that she should be allowed to compete based on being born as a woman.
There are also concerns about the fairness of associating her with men’s competitions, despite her being a female athlete. Sports commentators have acknowledged the complexity of this issue, describing it as a scientific challenge aimed at preserving the integrity of sports.
