These contrasting images escalated boxing’s gender war. One of them was deleted

The next opponent of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has posted an image on social media depicting a small woman preparing to fight against a beast under the Olympic rings as the gender storm engulfing the boxing tournament in Paris escalated.

Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori shared – and later deleted – the image ahead of their bout on Saturday afternoon (Sunday morning AEST).

The photo that was shared on social media by Anna Luca Hamori, but was later removed.

It comes as Algerian journalist and friend of the embattled Khelif said the 25-year-old wasn’t fazed by the uproar around her inclusion in the Olympics and had the support of the entire country to win gold in Paris.

Youcef Zaghba, who grew up in the same area as Khelif and has known her since childhood, posted images of the boxer as a young girl on social media in a move to quash any claims from people questioning whether she was born a female.

Zaghba spoke to this masthead about his relationship with Khelif and her family and said the furore over her inclusion in the sport had not impacted her preparation for her quarter-final bout in the women’s 66kg class.

“She’s my friend and I’ve known her since she was young,” Zaghba said. “I know all her family. I know her trainer from when she was young. I also know the trainer that introduced her to boxing. I know her whole story and everything about her. I spoke to her yesterday [after her fight] and thank god she’s very strong. She has no problems. She’s focused on her boxing. She’s quite comfortable with the decision of the Olympic Committee. It’s all above board.

Photos of Imane Khelif’s childhood and photos from her victory against Angela Carini at the Olympics on Thursday.

“The whole country is supporting Imane. We live in the same area. I know the people that have raised and surrounded her. When she was young she was from a poor family and they didn’t have any money. She was brought up in hard times and that’s what caused her to grow up with the look she has. Imane fought hard to get where she is.”

Khelif’s next fight is against Hamori, who originally had no qualms about fighting the Algerian, saying she wasn’t scared and adding: “If she or he is a man, it’ll be a bigger victory for me if I will win.”

Less than 24 hours later, the Hungarian Boxing Association (HBA) protested Khelif’s presence in the tournament and sent a letter to the IOC requesting they reconsider their position to allow her to compete.

Hamori still planned to accept her fight against Khelif, but the HBA said it was considering legally challenging Khelif’s presence, describing it as “unacceptable and outrageous”.

Hamori then shared the image of a woman preparing to fight a beast on social media before taking it down.

Zaghba, who has known Khelif for more than a decade and grew up alongside her near Tiaret in northern Algeria, said the boxer had privately maintained her failed eligibility test was part of a “conspiracy” to deny her a medal.

Khelif has attracted the attention of the world due to her being allowed to compete in Paris despite having been disqualified from the world championship in New Delhi in 2023 for failing gender-eligibility testing.

Khelif was disqualified from the world championships in New Delhi just hours before she was set to compete for a gold medal based on two test results that didn’t meet the International Boxing Association’s gender-eligibility criteria.

Algeria’s Imane Khelif (left) looks on as Italian Angela Carini abandons their bout.Credit: Getty Images

She did not undergo a testosterone examination but was subjected to separate tests, the specifics of which the IBA refused to detail for confidentiality reasons.

The situation erupted on Thursday when Italian Angela Carini, who was drawn against her in the round of 16 of the women’s 66 kilogram category, withdrew just 46 seconds into the bout, sparking global debate about Olympic boxing’s gender-eligibility criteria.

“After Imane qualified for the final of the world championship, the tests came and she was eliminated from the competition,” Zaghba said.

“There is a biological medical explanation for the tests. I spoke with Imane at the time, and she confirmed to me that what happened was a conspiracy to keep her away from the title.

“After a while, Imane repeated the tests and made sure that her hormones matched with the conditions for participation in the Olympics and international tournaments.”

Angela Carini (left) after her loss to Imane Khelif.Credit: Eddie Jim

He said uneducated claims on social media that Khelif was born a male and was now fighting as a female were offensive.

“It’s not possible for her to be a man. It’s impossible. The idea is not possible in Algeria, that Imane is not a girl,” he said.

Carini, meanwhile, issued an apology to Khelif on Friday both for refusing to shake her hand after the match and for the ensuing public vilification of her opponent, especially in light of things the Italian said after the fight.

Carini said she would “embrace” Khelif in future, telling Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport: “All this controversy makes me sad.

“I’m sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision ... Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke.”

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