The International Olympic Committee has come under fire following Imane Khelif’s gold medal triumph in the women’s boxing tournament on Friday.
The Algerian beat China’s Yang Liu in the women’s welterweight competition to snatch her first Olympic gold, which is also a first for her country.
While there was much rejoicing after the momentous win, there’s also a multitude who reckon Khelif should have been banned as she is suspected to be transgender and was disqualified from the World Championships last year following strict tests.
There has been a debate over whether the boxer has XY chromosomes, although it has been stated that she was born female, has always competed as a female, and is registered as a female on her passport.
🇩🇿🥇 IMANE KHELIF GOLD MEDAL !
Algerian women continue to make us proud #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/xYe4eMGHWI
— Algeria FC (@Algeria_FC) August 9, 2024
Despite the lack of proof of Khelif being transgender, at least publicly, vice president of communications at the Independent Women’s Forum called the IOC out over allowing the boxer to compete.
“The IOC has completely failed women. IOC President Thomas Bach, unable to define what a woman is, has failed women and has no business representing female athletes,” Coley said. “Every sponsor and organization that has provided aid and comfort to the IOC throughout this ambush on women has failed women.”
Imane Khelif And The IOC Also Criticized By Riley Gaines
Riley Gaines, a former swimmer who is an ambassador for the IWF, has been criticizing the IOC on social media since Italian Angela Carini abandoned a first-round match vs. Khelif.
“BREAKING: Imane Khelif (XY) dominated World Champion Lang Liu (XX) to win an Olympic gold medal,” she tweeted after the Algerian’s victory. “Let me repeat that: a MALE has taken a WOMAN’S Olympic gold. This is what they call this “progress.” It’s the ultimate betrayal of fairness, safety, and women by @iocmedia.”
🚨BREAKING: Imane Khelif (XY) dominated World Champion Lang Liu (XX) to win an Olympic gold medal.
Let me repeat that: a MALE has taken a WOMAN’S Olympic gold.
This is what they call this “progress.” It’s the ultimate betrayal of fairness, safety, and women by @iocmedia. pic.twitter.com/pHw1Ve4uTF
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) August 9, 2024
Earlier this week, Khelif broke her silence on the abuse she’s been receiving from fans. But she hadn’t commented on the IWF’s criticism at the time of writing.
