Due to a controversy surrounding a testosterone test, the boxer is under fire from critics.
New controversy in boxing with Imane Khelif, present in a female category in these Paris Olympics while she was “banned from the world boxing championships” World Championships in New Delhi, India, in March 2023, just before her fight for the gold medal after failing to meet the tests set up by the International Federation (IBA). She had been disqualified after “high testosterone levels” according to the Algerian boxer’s profile provided by the IOC. For these Olympics, she would have met the criteria but the controversy is growing with the withdrawal without even fighting of the Italian Angela Carini in the round of 16.
The Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee condemned “firmly condemns the false propaganda and immoral behavior towards our champion, Imane Khelif, of some foreign media. Such attacks against her person are totally unethical, especially since she is preparing for the most important event of her sports career, namely the Olympic Games”.
“The testosterone test is not a perfect test. Many women can have testosterone levels equal to those of men, while still being women,” explained the IOC spokesperson.