Irish boxer Amy Broadhurst, who defeated Imane Khelif at the 2022 World Championships, has defended the Algerian amid the storm of gender controversy that has engulfed her at the Olympics.
Khelif was disqualified hours before her gold medal bout at the Women’s World Championships in New Delhi last year because she did not meet the eligibility criteria of the International Boxing Association (IBA), which prohibits athletes with male XY chromosomes from competing in women’s competitions. Taiwan’s two-time world champion Lin Yu-ting lost her bronze medal at the same competition because she also did not meet the criteria.
The IBA did not provide any information on why the boxers failed gender suitability tests, but clarified that neither of them took a testosterone test. Neither 25-year-old Khelif nor 28-year-old two-time world champion Lin identify as transgender or intersex.
For reasons of governance and financing, the IOC withdrew its recognition of the IBA last year. The Olympic governing body organized the boxing competition in Paris itself and allowed both women to participate.
On Thursday, Khelif landed a powerful blow in the round of 16 against her opponent, Italian Angela Carini, forcing Carini to retire after just 46 seconds. After Khelif raised her hand in victory, Carini fell to her knees in tears and was also heard telling her coach: “This is not right, this is not right!” before immediately leaving the arena.
Carini suffered a suspected broken nose and the 25-year-old told reporters she had never been hit so hard in her career.
The situation has sparked a flood of hate, aggression and misinformation about Khelif online, with figures such as author JK Rowling and billionaire Elon Musk speaking out against her taking part in the Games.
But ahead of the Algerian’s victory in Paris 2024, Broadhurst – a boxer who defeated Khelif in the welterweight final of the 2022 IBA Women’s World Championship – defended her in a social media post.
“A lot of people are messaging me about Imane Khelif,” she wrote on Twitter/X. “Personally, I don’t think she did anything to ‘cheat.'”
“I think it’s because of the way she was born and the fact that she can’t control it. The fact that she’s been beaten by nine women says it all.”
A lot of people write to me about Imane Khelif. Personally, I don’t think she did anything to “cheat”. I think she was born that way and has no control over it. The fact that she has been beaten by nine women says it all.
– Amy Broadhurst (@amybroadhurst12) July 31, 2024
The IOC said the conditions of participation were based on those of the 2021 Tokyo Games and could not be changed during a competition.
In a statement, the IOC wrote: “The current aggression against these two athletes is based solely on this arbitrary decision, taken without any due process, especially considering that these athletes have been competing at the highest level for many years.
“The IOC is saddened by the insults the two athletes are currently being subjected to,” it continued. “Everyone has the right to practice sport without discrimination.”
Khelif’s next fight is scheduled for Saturday (August 3) at 16:22 BST. A win would guarantee the Algerian a bronze medal in the -66kg class and a chance to fight for silver or gold.
