‘I Live As A Woman, And I Am Qualified’: Imane Khelif Makes Defiant Statement On Gender Controversy

Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif who won Gold for her country in Women's 66kg Boxing at Paris Olympics certainly emerged as the biggest controversy at the Paris Games after accusations of being a ‘biological male’.

Imane Khelif's entire Paris Olympics campaign was filled with a lot of online abuse, bullying and criticism from all over the world over misinformation regarding her gender. As Imane Khelif beat China's Yang Liu 5-0, she decided to speak out against the gender controversy in a defiant response. 

Imane Khelif speaks out against gender controversy

Imane Khelif's gender was a big issue at the Paris Olympics and it became a major controversy. Khelif had failed a gender test in 2023 and was banned by the International Boxing Association to fight in major tournaments. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed her to participate in the Olympics. 

When she beat Italy's Angela Carini in the preliminary round at Paris Olympics, it created a major row over her qualification. But Khelif kept her focus and stormed to the victory. 

Post her Gold Medal triumph, Imane Khelif spoke out against the gender controversy and set the record as he said, “I’m fully qualified to take part in this competition. I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified". 

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Imane Khelif further went on to say that winning the Olympic Gold medal had been her biggest dream and in the past 8 years she gave it her all to reach the stage. 

“For eight years, this has been my dream, and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medallist,” said Imane Khelif. 

The Algerian further addressed that the online abuse she received at the Olympics added a special taste to her success. 

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“That also gives my success a special taste because of those attacks. We are in the Olympics to perform as athletes, and I hope that we will not see any similar attacks in future Olympics,” said Imane Khelif. 

Imane Khelif became the first female Algerian Boxer to win a Gold medal for the country at Olympics. 

(With AP Inputs)