The controversy surrounding Algerian Imane Khelif has not abated. As the welterweight boxer prepares to compete for a gold medal on Friday, there is once again the possibility that misinformation about the disaster will come to light.
The controversy surrounding Khelif, along with Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting, remains the loudest talking point of the Summer Games. The boxing pair have been in the spotlight after it was revealed that they were both banned from the 2023 World Championships due to testing positive in gender eligibility tests administered by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has backed boxers’ participation in the 2024 Paris Games, meaning both remain in the competition. Both the IOC and the IBA have given their side of the debate, however, the full details of the situation remain unclear.
That said, here’s what we know about the facts of the Khelif case and the conversation that followed.
DeCOURCY: Imane Khelif’s current rival is bigger than her sport
Imane Khelif’s Condition, Explained
In most cases, if an inpidual is found to have XY chromosomes, he or she would be classified as male. However, there are exceptions, as there are certain conditions that may allow a female to have XY chromosomes.
What is DSD?
DSD stands for differences in sexual development. They are a group of conditions that involve genes, hormones and reproductive organs, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Some people with DSD who are raised female may have sex chromosomes other than XX, or potentially elevated levels of testosterone as well, according to the NIH.
It is not true that athletes with variations in their sexual characteristics, or DSD, are the same as transgender athletes. Confusing the two is considered incorrect.
It is not verified that Khelif has a variation in sexual traits or DSD, according to GLAAD and interACT.
What is Swyer syndrome?
Swyer syndrome is a rare genetic disorder in which an inpidual has one X chromosome and one Y chromosome in each cell (normally found in males), but has female reproductive structures, according to National Cancer Institute.
It is not verified whether Khelif has been diagnosed with Swyer syndrome.
Imane Khelif is a woman, not a transgender
Khelif is a woman, according to GLAAD and interACTShe is not transgender nor does she identify as intersex. She has competed in boxing as a woman for years.
Imane Khelif Gender Test Results
Khelif was one of two boxers who failed a gender eligibility test ahead of the 2023 World Boxing Championships. Those competitions are sanctioned by the IBA and it was the same group that administered the tests.
The IBA said these tests revealed that Khelif has XY chromosomes, which are more common in males. This is what started the controversy in the first place.
The group had previously stated that “athletes did not undergo a testosterone test, but rather an independent and recognised test, the details of which are kept secret,” but IBA President Umar Kremlev denied this claim at a press conference during the Olympics.
“We have the results of the tests that we were allowed to perform and these tests show that they have a high level of testosterone, like a man,” Kremlev said through a translator. “The testosterone level of a man.”
DeCOURCY: IBA’s ugly press conference puts boxing’s Olympic future in further jeopardy
The IOC defended Khelif’s eligibility amid the controversy, publishing a statement Before the Olympic Games, it was said that “everyone has the right to practice sport without discrimination.”
“The two athletes were victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA,” the IOC said, arguing that Khelif and Yu-Ting “were suddenly disqualified without any due process.”
“The Algerian boxer was born a woman, was registered as a woman, lived her life as a woman, boxed as a woman and has a female passport,” said IOC spokesman Mark Adams. saying During a press conference, he said: “This is not a case of transsexuality.”
The organisation does not use the gender eligibility tests used by the IBA. Instead, the IOC has reverted to using passports to determine age and gender, which were the standards previously used at previous Olympic Games.
“Many women can have testosterone, what will be called ‘male levels,’ and still be women and still compete as women.” IOC spokesman Adams said: “The idea that you just have to do a testosterone test and everything will be solved, I’m afraid that’s not the case.”
There is a lot of bad blood between the two organisations. The IOC banned the IBA from participating in the 2023 Olympics, which sparked the ongoing dispute between the two groups. Considering that the IOC does not currently recognise the IBA, it is not surprising that the IOC has not confirmed the outcome of the IBA’s tests and the bans that followed.
“The IOC has made it clear that it needs the National Boxing Federations to reach a consensus around a new International Federation,” the IOC said in its statement.
The IOC has also threatened to remove boxing from the 2028 Olympics altogether if changes are not made to the fight sanctioning process.
Ultimately, Khelif met the requirements necessary to compete at the 2024 Olympics. While she may have been disqualified from the IBA-sanctioned World Championships, those rules do not apply to the IOC or the Olympics.
