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Rabat – Moroccan-Dutch kickboxing icon Badr Hari has extended his congratulations to Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, following a contentious period overshadowing her Olympic journey.
In a recent Instagram story, Hari commended Khelif’s efforts, saying, “Well-deserved. Congratulations to this young woman.”
On August 3, Khelif secured a commanding 5-0 victory against Hungary’s Hamor Anna Luca in the women’s 66kg quarterfinal.
Hari, a renowned kickboxer and former mixed martial artist, is often regarded as one of the greatest kickboxers in history. He has held the titles of K-1 Heavyweight World Champion (2007-2008) and It’s Showtime Heavyweight World Champion (2009-2010).
Khelif, a seasoned competitor in women’s boxing, boasts an impressive resume. She competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and secured a silver medal at the 2022 Women’s World Championships in Istanbul.
Despite her accolades, her participation in the Paris Games has been clouded by allegations related to her gender.
The controversy arose particularly after her decisive victory over Italy’s Angela Carini in a welterweight bout. Misinformation and unfounded claims about Khelif being transgender due to the sheer force of her punches have sparked heated debate.
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The controversy has led to an undue examination of Khelif’s background, with many bringing to the conversation that the boxer has a high level of testosterone for a woman.
Supporters have rallied on social media, defending Khelif and debunking the claims of her being transgender. Medical science and her extensive public boxing career lend credence to the argument that these allegations are unfounded.
From a medical standpoint, experts have defended the validity of Khelif’s gender testing and debunked myths about the role of testosterone in unfair advantages for women in sports.
In an interview with the Economic Times, Payoshnii Mitra, athlete rights advocate and executive director of Humans of Sport organization said: “It’s important to understand that the level of testosterone in all these women is produced naturally.” She continued, “Even if one has a high level of testosterone, a woman’s tissues and muscles may not respond” in the same way (as men’s).
In a recent interview with BFMTV, Khelif’s father also defended his daughter, stating, “My child is a girl. She was raised as a girl. She’s a strong girl. I raised her to be hardworking and brave. She has a strong will to work and to train. The Italian opponent she faced was unable to defeat my daughter because my daughter was stronger and she was softer.”
Both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU) have emphasized in a statement that all athletes must comply with eligibility and medical regulations, with gender verification based on official passport information.
They have also criticized the International Boxing Association (IBA) for its sudden disqualification of Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin-Yu during the 2023 World Championships, which contributed to the current controversy.
Pushing through the controversy, the Algerian boxer is still competing in the ring. Khelif is scheduled to compete against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng today in a semifinal match at 9:34 p.m. Moroccan time.
