Latest news with #AlgerianOlympic
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boxer Khelif not competing in latest tournament: organisers
Khelif said the Gold medal was an answer to her critics (MOHD RASFAN) Algerian Olympic champion boxer Imane Khelif, who is at the centre of a row over gender eligibility, will not compete in this week's tournament in The Netherlands, organisers said Thursday. Dirk Renders, spokesman for the Eindhoven Box Cup, confirmed to AFP the boxer would not be taking part, adding: "The decision of her exclusion is up to World Boxing." Advertisement World Boxing has introduced mandatory gender testing for competitors over 18 and had informed the Algerian federation Khelif would have to undergo the test to compete in Eindhoven this week. Under the new policy, all athletes in World Boxing-sanctioned competitions need to take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, to determine what sex they were at birth. The PCR test, conducted via a nasal or mouth swab, detects specific genetic material -- in this case the SRY gene -- that reveals the presence of the Y chromosome, an indicator of biological gender. The controversy around Khelif, who won Gold in the women's welterweight class in Paris, was one of the stories of the Games. Advertisement The scandal erupted when Khelif defeated Italy's Angela Carini in 46 seconds in her opening bout, the Italian reduced to tears after suffered a badly hurt nose. Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, then found themselves at the centre of a gender row that attracted comments from US President Donald Trump and "Harry Potter" author Both boxers had been disqualified from the International Boxing Association's (IBA) 2023 world championships after the organisation said they had failed gender eligibility tests. But the International Olympic Committee later stripped the IBA of its right to organise the boxing in Paris over financial, governance, and ethical concerns. Advertisement The IOC allowed them both to compete in Paris saying they had been victims of "a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA". "The two female athletes mentioned by the IBA are not transgender athletes," the IOC said in a statement to AFP in February. "They were born as women, were raised as women, and have competed in the women's category for their entire boxing careers," said the IOC. World Boxing will organise the boxing competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the IOC granted it provisional recognition. - 'Born a woman' - Khelif is a role model to many in Algeria and received strong support from authorities and fans during the controversy in Paris. Advertisement After winning Gold, she said the medal was the best response to her critics. "I am fully qualified to take part. I am a woman like any other. I was born a woman, lived a woman and competed as a woman," she said. The row rumbled on well beyond Paris, with the IBA saying in February it would sue the IOC for clearing Khelif to box at the Games. Khelif jabbed back that the accusations were "false and offensive", adding: "This is a matter that concerns not just me but the broader principles of fairness and due process in sport." She has vowed to take her own legal action to refute the accusations. Advertisement "I am not going anywhere. I will fight in the ring, I will fight in the courts and I will fight in the public eye until the truth is undeniable," she said. World Boxing, which took over governance of the sport from the IBA, was forced into an embarrassing climbdown of its own earlier this week. It had initially named Khelif in its statement announcing the new testing policy but then rowed back. "The president of World Boxing does not think it was correct to have named a specific athlete" in the statement. The association wrote to the Algerian boxing authorities to apologise and acknowledge that "greater effort should have been made to avoid linking the policy to any individual". ric/ea
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boxer Khelif not competing in latest tournament: organisers
Khelif said the Gold medal was an answer to her critics (MOHD RASFAN) Algerian Olympic champion boxer Imane Khelif, who is at the centre of a row over gender eligibility, will not compete in this week's tournament in The Netherlands, organisers said Thursday. Dirk Renders, spokesman for the Eindhoven Box Cup, confirmed to AFP the boxer would not be taking part, adding: "The decision of her exclusion is up to World Boxing." Advertisement World Boxing has introduced mandatory gender testing for competitors over 18 and had informed the Algerian federation Khelif would have to undergo the test to compete in Eindhoven this week. Under the new policy, all athletes in World Boxing-sanctioned competitions need to take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, to determine what sex they were at birth. The PCR test, conducted via a nasal or mouth swab, detects specific genetic material -- in this case the SRY gene -- that reveals the presence of the Y chromosome, an indicator of biological gender. The controversy around Khelif, who won Gold in the women's welterweight class in Paris, was one of the stories of the Games. Advertisement The scandal erupted when Khelif defeated Italy's Angela Carini in 46 seconds in her opening bout, the Italian reduced to tears after suffered a badly hurt nose. Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, then found themselves at the centre of a gender row that attracted comments from US President Donald Trump and "Harry Potter" author Both boxers had been disqualified from the International Boxing Association's (IBA) 2023 world championships after the organisation said they had failed gender eligibility tests. But the International Olympic Committee later stripped the IBA of its right to organise the boxing in Paris over financial, governance, and ethical concerns. Advertisement The IOC allowed them both to compete in Paris saying they had been victims of "a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA". "The two female athletes mentioned by the IBA are not transgender athletes," the IOC said in a statement to AFP in February. "They were born as women, were raised as women, and have competed in the women's category for their entire boxing careers," said the IOC. World Boxing will organise the boxing competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the IOC granted it provisional recognition. - 'Born a woman' - Khelif is a role model to many in Algeria and received strong support from authorities and fans during the controversy in Paris. Advertisement After winning Gold, she said the medal was the best response to her critics. "I am fully qualified to take part. I am a woman like any other. I was born a woman, lived a woman and competed as a woman," she said. The row rumbled on well beyond Paris, with the IBA saying in February it would sue the IOC for clearing Khelif to box at the Games. Khelif jabbed back that the accusations were "false and offensive", adding: "This is a matter that concerns not just me but the broader principles of fairness and due process in sport." She has vowed to take her own legal action to refute the accusations. Advertisement "I am not going anywhere. I will fight in the ring, I will fight in the courts and I will fight in the public eye until the truth is undeniable," she said. World Boxing, which took over governance of the sport from the IBA, was forced into an embarrassing climbdown of its own earlier this week. It had initially named Khelif in its statement announcing the new testing policy but then rowed back. "The president of World Boxing does not think it was correct to have named a specific athlete" in the statement. The association wrote to the Algerian boxing authorities to apologise and acknowledge that "greater effort should have been made to avoid linking the policy to any individual". ric/ea
Daily Tribune
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Tribune
World Boxing Admits Error, Apologizes for Naming Khelif in Mandatory Sex Testing
TDT | Manama World Boxing has issued an apology after naming Algerian Olympic champion Imane Khelif in its announcement of mandatory sex testing for all competitors, acknowledging that her privacy was not adequately protected. The global governing body, recently granted provisional recognition to oversee boxing at the 2028 Olympics, now faces scrutiny over its handling of a sensitive issue. A Controversial Announcement Last week, World Boxing unveiled a new policy requiring all athletes over 18 to undergo a PCR genetic test to compete in its events. The test, which can be conducted via nasal or mouth swab, saliva, or blood, aims to standardise eligibility across the sport. However, the announcement drew attention for its specific reference to Khelif, stating that the Algerian Boxing Federation had been informed she 'may not participate in the female category' until complying with the testing requirement. The mention of Khelif, who won gold in the women's 66kg category at the Paris 2024 Olympics amid a gender eligibility controversy, sparked immediate backlash. The decision to single her out in a public statement raised questions about fairness and discretion in a sport already grappling with complex issues around gender and inclusion. An Apology from the Top In response, World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst took swift action. He personally wrote to Abdelkader Abbas, president of the Algerian Boxing Federation, to apologise for including Khelif's name in the announcement. A source confirmed that van der Vorst expressed regret, stating that the organisation should have taken greater care to safeguard Khelif's privacy. The apology reflects an acknowledgment that naming an individual in such a context risks amplifying personal and professional scrutiny. Efforts to reach Khelif and the Algerian Boxing Federation for comment were unsuccessful, leaving their perspective on the matter unclear. The Algerian federation, which joined World Boxing in September, is one of over 100 national bodies aligned with the organisation since its inception in 2023. Navigating a Sensitive Landscape The incident comes at a delicate time for boxing. Khelif's Olympic gold in Paris was a moment of pride for Algeria but was overshadowed by debates over gender eligibility, with some questioning her participation in the women's category. World Boxing's new testing policy appears designed to address such controversies with a consistent framework, but its implementation has stumbled out of the gate. The PCR test, described as a straightforward genetic screening process, is intended to ensure clarity and fairness in competition. Yet, by publicly linking the policy to Khelif, World Boxing inadvertently placed her back in the spotlight, reigniting discussions from the Paris Games. The organisation's apology signals an awareness of the need for greater sensitivity in handling such matters, particularly for athletes already navigating intense public scrutiny. A Test for Boxing's Future As World Boxing prepares to lead the sport into the 2028 Olympics, this episode highlights the challenges of balancing transparency, fairness, and respect for athletes' dignity. The organisation's provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee is a significant step toward unifying boxing's fractured governance, but incidents like this highlight the complexities involved. For Khelif, the focus remains on her achievements in the ring, where she proved her dominance in Paris. How World Boxing moves forward—ensuring policies are applied equitably while protecting athletes' privacy—will be critical to maintaining trust among federations and competitors alike. For now, the sport's governing body has learned a hard lesson: clarity in policy must be matched by care in communication.
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Business Standard
03-06-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Is boxer Imane Khelif a biological male? What does 'leaked' lab report say
A leaked test report by an Indian lab shows that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who won Gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is biologically male, reported The Telegraph. The purported lab report has emerged less than two days after newly formed World Boxing declared that Khelif would need to undergo sex screening before participating in future female competitions. According to The Telegraph, the test, carried out in New Delhi in March 2023, revealed the boxer's full chromosome profile, or karyotype, showing an XY pattern typically associated with male chromosomes. How the controversy began Imane Khelif competed at the Paris Olympics on the basis of her passport, which mentioned her as a woman. Hence, she was officially registered as female by both the Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee and the IOC. Olympic officials have repeatedly stated there was no valid reason to prevent her from competing in the women's category. The controversy around Khelif intensified after her first bout in Paris against Italy's Angela Carini. The Italian boxer, visibly distressed by the physical power Khelif displayed, left the ring in tears and later said she feared for her safety. The same was echoed by other competitors, who felt the power difference was 'uncomfortable to watch' and likened it to watching a man fight a woman in the ring. Rumors and accusations about Khelif's sex and eligibility for the women's division swirled, especially after she defeated Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting in a dominant final. The Indian lab report: Details and findings Now, Khelif's chromosome analysis conducted at Dr Lal PathLabs in New Delhi in 2023 has reportedly been leaked. The laboratory is internationally accredited by the American College of Pathologists and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). The purported report have come to light just days after World Boxing ordered Khelif to undergo sex testing for future eligibility in women's competitions. The report, published on 3 Wire Sports website, also noted that Khelif has a condition affecting sexual development, possibly 5-alpha reductase deficiency, which can result in ambiguous genitalia and internal testicles, but often limits secondary male characteristics. World Boxing, newly recognised to oversee Olympic boxing in Los Angeles, has now implemented a requirement for all athletes over 18 to undergo a PCR genetic test to determine sex, using saliva, mouth swabs, or blood. Since last year's controversy, Khelif has yet to provide evidence of possessing female chromosomes. IOC and IBA: Clashing positions Notably, World Boxing was formed after the IOC stripped the International Boxing Association's (IBA) recognition as a global body in 2023. The IBA had demanded accountability from the IOC over Khelif's issue. IBA President Umar Kremlev publicly called for Thomas Bach to apologise for what he called 'the abuse of women at the Olympics', claiming that the IOC allowed a "man to compete against women". The IOC categorically dismissed the results of sex tests, with spokesperson Mark Adams describing these results as 'ad hoc' and 'not legitimate' during a press conference at the Paris Olympics. IOC President Thomas Bach went further, suggesting that the controversy was part of a Russian-led misinformation campaign, given the IBA's loss of IOC recognition over ethics and financial management concerns. The IOC maintains that Khelif was assigned female at birth, registered as female, and has always lived as a woman, including holding and using a female passport. Imane Khelif's response Imane Khelif has strongly denied the allegations regarding her biological sex. She maintains that she was raised as a girl, has always identified as female, and holds a female passport. After her suspension from the 2023 Women's Boxing World Championship in India, Khelif described the situation as a 'conspiracy' and vowed not to remain silent.
India Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Leaks from Indian lab drop bombshell on Olympic boxer Imane Khelif's biological sex
Newly leaked documents from a reputed Indian lab have claimed that Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif is biologically male. The test, conducted in 2023, reportedly showed that Khelif has XY chromosomes, which are typically associated with male biology, the New York Post reported. According to the report, documents were obtained from Dr. Lal Path Labs, a certified lab in New Delhi accredited by the American College of Pathologists and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). A chromosome analysis concluded: "Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype."advertisementThe Russian-backed boxing authorities suspended Khelif from the 2023 Women's Boxing World Championship in India based on these findings. However, She was permitted to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she won OFFICIALS DISMISS TEST RESULT At the Olympics, the officials dismissed the test, questioning its legitimacy. They stated that there is a possibility of Russian interference aimed at damaging Khelif's reputation and improving their own athletes' chances. The Olympic committee denied any biological concerns, saying there was no valid reason to prevent Khelif from competing in the women's boxer Angela Carini faced Khelif during the Paris Olympics in a match that ended in just 46 seconds. After the match, she said, "I feared for my life during that fight."Mexican boxer Brianda Tamara Cruz, who fought Khelif in 2022, echoed similar feelings. "I don't think I had ever felt like that in my 13 years as a boxer, nor in my sparring with men," she 26, has denied all claims that she is male, stating that she was raised as a girl and has always identified as female. Must Watch
