Algerian President Applauds Boxer Khelif On Medal Amid Gender Row

PARIS, Aug 4 (Bernama-dpa) -- Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has received prominent support from her home country amid a heated gender debate in Olympic women's boxing, reported German news agency (dpa). 

Khelif, who was disqualified at the 2023 women's world championships for not meeting gender eligibility requirements, is now certain of at least a bronze medal after beating Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori in Saturday's quarter-final of the 66-kilogramme division.

"You have honoured Algeria, Algerian women and Algerian boxing. We will stand by your side, no matter what your results are. Good luck in the next two rounds and onwards," wrote Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on social media platform X.

The 25-year-old Khelif had been cheered on by numerous Algerian fans in the arena during her quarter-final victory over Hungary's Hamori. She defeated the Hungarian 5-0 on a unanimous points decision over the three rounds.

Afterwards, she was visibly emotional. After a short TV interview, Khelif was helped into the dressing room wrapped in an Algerian flag. Hundreds of media representatives waited in vain for statements from the athlete.

There has been a fierce row regarding Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-Ting over their right to compete in the Paris Games. 

Both athletes boxed at the Tokyo Games three years ago and have lost fights to fellow female competitors. 

They were kicked out of the 2023 worlds championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA). 

The IBA, formerly the AIBA, was in charge of the world championships but is no longer recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to governance issues. The IOC is effectively running the boxing itself at the Paris Games.

The IBA said in a statement on Wednesday that the boxers should never have been at the Olympics, citing "fairness".

"(Tests) conclusively indicated that both athletes did not meet the required necessary eligibility criteria and were found to have competitive advantages over other female competitors."

The IBA added that Lin did not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) while Khelif initially appealed but later withdrew it.

The IBA did not detail what tests the two athletes failed.

A joint statement by the Joint Paris 2024 Boxing Unit and the IOC on Thursday said that Khelif and Lin "were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA", adding that they were "suddenly disqualified without any due process".

Olympics chief Thomas Bach said "there was never any doubt" that Khelif and Lin are women, though he added he is willing to listen to experts if a new way of categorising sex is developed.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams on Friday said that misinformation was at play in the row.

"What I would urge is that we try to take the culture war out of this and actually address the issues and think about the individuals and the people concerned," Adams said. "Real damage is being done by misinformation."

-- BERNAMA-dpa