Imane Khelif’s mother Nasria replies to critics who questioned Olympic gold medalist boxer's gender
TIARET, ALGERIA: Imane Khelif's mother, Nasria, has fiercely defended her daughter against claims that the Olympic gold medalist was not born female.
The Algerian boxer secured the welterweight gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics earlier this month, but her participation was marred by controversy.
The accusations surfaced after Khelif and fellow boxer Lin Yu-Ting participated in the Games, just 13 months after allegedly failing gender eligibility tests administered by the Russian-backed International Boxing Association (IBA).
Imane Khelif's mother Nasria says her daughter is a role model for Algerians
Unsubstantiated rumors spread rapidly on social media, with some claiming that Imane Khelif was born male.
The speculation intensified when Italy's Angela Carini quit their tournament opener just after 46 seconds.
However, Khelif’s mother, Nasria, stood firm in her support for her daughter, telling the Daily Mail, "My child is a girl."
"She was raised as a girl. Imane is a girl who has loved sport since she was six years old. I will always be there for her. She honored the national flag. She is our role model," said Nasria.
The controversy also drew the attention of high-profile figures, including JK Rowling, Elon Musk, and former president Donald Trump, who used the situation to fuel the ongoing debate about sex and gender in sports.
In response, Khelif filed a criminal complaint in France, naming Rowling, Musk, and others for spreading misinformation about her gender.
International Boxing Association’s decision under scrutiny
The roots of this controversy can be traced back to March last year when the International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified Imane Khelif from the Women's World Championships in India.
She was expelled just hours before her scheduled gold medal match against a Chinese opponent due to elevated testosterone levels, which failed to meet eligibility criteria.
In a statement this month, the IBA said that the pair had failed to meet the eligibility for participating in the women's competition, adding that the boxers "did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a separate and recognised test where the specifics remain confidential".
The decision has been criticized for its lack of transparency, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) labeling the testing process as "impossibly flawed."
The IOC emphasized Khelif’s eligibility, stating, "Khelif was assigned female at birth and it says so on her passport, which is the International Olympic Committee's threshold for eligibility in boxing."
Despite the IOC's statement, Khelif continued to face online abuse and accusations regarding her gender.
In an effort to clear the air, her trainer, George Cazorla, revealed that after the 2023 World Championships disqualification, he consulted an endocrinologist in Paris who confirmed Khelif’s gender, despite anomalies in her hormones and chromosomes.
"There is a problem with her hormones, with her chromosome, but she is a woman," Cazorla said.
Imane Khelif speaks out amid ongoing gender controversy
Imane Khelif broke her silence earlier this week, describing the fear and emotional toll the controversy has taken on her.
"I am not lying to you, it affected me. It affected me a lot, hurt me a lot. I can't describe to you the amount of fear I had," Khelif said as reported by The Sun.
She expressed gratitude for the support she received from her fellow Algerians and the Arab world, saying, "Thank god, all the people of Algeria and the Arab world knew Imane Khelif with her femininity, her courage, her will."
Khelif also condemned the political figures who have targeted her, asserting, "These politicians who are oppressing me, they don't have the right to say that I'm a transgender."
Her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, indicated that the lawsuit could bring figures like Trump, Rowling, and Musk to trial.
"JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others," Boudi told Variety. "Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution."
Imane Khelif gets hero's welcome in Algeria
As Imane Khelif returned home to Tiaret, a city in Algeria’s high desert plateau, she was met with a hero’s welcome.
The people in Algeria saw the attacks on Khelif as an attack on the nation itself.
"All Algerian men and women have the right to be happy and celebrate," Khelif told reporters upon her return on Friday, according to NBC News.
Reflecting on her humble beginnings in a conservative village, Khelif shared the challenges she faced pursuing boxing, a sport not widely practiced by women in Algeria.
In an interview with Canal Algerie, a month before her game, she spoke about the difficulties of growing up in a conservative family and how she and her mother worked hard to support her dreams.
"I came from a conservative family. Boxing is not a widely practiced sport by women, especially in Algeria," Khelif said as per France 24.
Her father, proud of her achievements, previously said, "Having such a daughter is an honor because she is a champion, she honored me and I encourage... Imane is a little girl that has loved sport since she was six years old."
Just days ago, Khelif unveiled a new feminine look in a video on Instagram, showcasing her transformation from her more masculine boxing persona to her fully feminine side. "Beauty makeover for our champion," read a post by Beauty Code in French.
