‘Against the world’: Controversial boxer Imane Khelif sends a message after claiming gold

Controversial boxer Imane Khelif has spoken out after winning gold, shedding light on what it’s been like being pitted “against the world”.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Imane Khelif of Team Algeria celebrates to the crowd after winning the gold medal following the Boxing Women's 66kg Final match against Liu Yang of Team China on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Controversial boxer Imane Khelif has spoken out after winning gold, shedding light on what it’s been like trapped inside a media storm in the middle of an Olympic campaign.

The Algerian defeated China’s Yang Liu in women’s welterweight (66kg) final, concluding a long and polarising journey through the lower rounds as media outlets, boxing professionals and commentators weighed in on her gender.

Just like the qualifying rounds that generated heavy controversy, Khelif completely controlled the final with her obvious size and reach and claimed gold by unanimous decision.

The 25-year-old didn’t lose a single round throughout her entire Olympic campaign, outclassing her rivals at every turn to become the first Algerian woman to win boxing gold.

“Whether I qualify or not, or whether I’m a woman or not, I have made many statements in the media,” Khelif said in the press conference room clutching her medal.

“I am fully qualified to take part in this competition. I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman, I lived a woman, I competed as a woman. There’s no doubt about that. There are enemies of success – this is what I call them. That also gives my success a special test because of these attacks.”

Conflicting opinions held by multiple sporting governing bodies have added to the confusion and anger surrounding Khelif.

It’s been claimed Khelif has XY chromosomes, making her biologically male.

The International Boxing Association (IBA) outlawed her from competing against females after two gender tests allegedly revealed male chromosomes in her DNA.

The Algerian defeated China’s Yang Liu in women’s welterweight (66kg) final

Conflicting opinions held by multiple sporting governing bodies have added to the confusion and anger surrounding Khelif’s inclusion in the women’s boxing.

But the International Olympic Committee disagreed, labelling the IBA’s diagnosis “flawed” and “illegitimate.”

No matter which way you slice it, the entire furore has been a farcical end to boxing at the Olympic Games, which will likely be scrapped for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

But Khelif believes her “honour is intact now”.

“The attacks I heard on social media were extremely bad – but they are meaningless,” Khelif continued.

“They impact the dignity of people and I think now people’s thinking has changed. As for the IBA, since 2018 I’ve been boxing under the umbrella of the IBA. They know me very well, they know what I am capable and they know how I have developed over the years.

‘My honour is intact now.’

The International Boxing Association (IBA) outlawed her from competing against females after two gender tests allegedly revealed male chromosomes in her DNA.

“Now they are not recognised any more. They hate me. They hate me and I don’t know why. I really don’t know why. I’ve sent them a single message with this gold medal, telling them my dignity and my honour is above everything else.”

Khelif celebrated her medal by dancing around the ring at Roland Garros, igniting further comments from those who believe her entry to the event was illegitimate.

One account on X described Khelif’s victory as one fought “against the world”.

Officials from boxing federation the IBA declared Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting “are male” after the IBA said previously it had disqualified the duo from its 2023 world championships after the fighters failed gender eligibility tests, without specifying what the tests were.

Lin Yu-ting will also fight for a gold medal in the 57kg category on Sunday morning.