Imane Khelif, at center of gender firestorm, advances to gold medal boxing match

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif secured her spot in the gold medal match on Tuesday at the Paris Olympics, advancing from the women’s welterweight boxing semifinals.

Why It’s Important: Khelif, a competitor in women’s boxing since the Tokyo Olympics and who is not transgender, has become the focus of significant controversy regarding her gender identity.

Latest Developments: Khelif earned a unanimous decision victory against Thai boxer Janjaem Suwannapheng at the Roland-Garros Stadium, with all judges scoring each round 10-9 in her favor. The crowd, strongly supportive of Khelif, cheered loudly throughout the bout. Both fighters shared a sportsmanlike embrace post-match.

Background: Despite being assigned female at birth and identifying as such throughout her career, Khelif was banned in 2023 by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for an unspecified gender test failure. The IBA, supported by Russia, is no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is overseeing the Paris 2024 boxing events.

Current Controversy: The inclusion of Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting in the Paris games has sparked heated debate. The IBA has criticized the IOC for allowing them to compete, while the IOC has defended their inclusion. The IOC’s policies on intersex athletes lack specific testosterone level regulations.

Recent Issues: The controversy intensified after Italian boxer Angela Carini halted their match 46 seconds in and refused to shake Khelif’s hand. Although Carini later apologized, Khelif faced criticism from prominent figures such as former President Trump, Sen. JD Vance, Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene, Elon Musk, and J.K. Rowling, who have voiced anti-transgender sentiments. Khelif has called for an end to gender-based bullying and continues to assert her identity as female.

Statements: Both boxers spoke positively of each other post-match. Khelif praised her opponent’s skill and noted, “I trained for two weeks and studied how she fought from videos.” Suwannapheng acknowledged Khelif’s strength and admitted, “I tried to use my speed, but my opponent was just too strong,” adding that she was aware of the controversy but hadn’t followed it closely.

Broader Context: The debate over gender inclusivity in sports reflects ongoing discussions about the inclusion of transgender and intersex athletes. Various intersex conditions and natural variations in testosterone levels contribute to this complex issue. The IOC’s revised 2021 policy aims to balance fairness and inclusion but leaves specific regulations to individual sports federations.

In Focus: While no transgender women are competing in Paris, several transgender and non-binary athletes who were assigned female at birth are participating in women’s events. Notably, Hergie Bacyadan of the Philippines, who identifies as male, made history as the first openly transgender male athlete at the Olympics despite losing his match. Other transgender and non-binary athletes include Canadian soccer player Quinn and U.S. runner Nikki Hiltz, who recently advanced to the semifinals in the women’s 1500-meter race.

Looking Ahead: Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, also subject to gender-related controversy, is scheduled for her semifinal bout on Wednesday.