Imane Khelif gender proof finally revealed as father produces official documents

Imane Khelif gender proof finally revealed as father produces official documents

Imane Khelif’s father has confirmed the Algerian boxing sensation was indeed born female, in a sharp retort to the ongoing controversy surrounding her participation in the Olympics. Khelif has been at the center of a storm since her first-round boxing match with Italian competitor Angela Carini in Paris.

The fight was abruptly ended by Carini after just 46 seconds, and she was later seen crying when the victory was awarded to Khelif.

The Algerian boxer faced widespread backlash after it emerged that she had failed to meet gender eligibility criteria and was subsequently disqualified by the IBA last year. However, the International Olympics Committee does not have such rules, allowing Khelif to compete in Paris.

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Her father has now stepped into the fray, confirming that his daughter was indeed born female. According to Mail Online, Amar Khelif presented an official document dated May 2, 1999, verifying that she was born a girl.

He then launched a blistering attack on the ongoing criticism of his daughter, while also expressing his hope that she would go on to win Olympic gold. Speaking to Mail Online, he said: “The attacks of ella against her are immoral, it is not fair.”

“Imane is a little girl who has loved sport since she was six-years-old, she used to play football. These critics and rumors aim to destabilize Imane, they don’t want her to be the champion of the world.

Algeria’s Imane Khelif, right, after defeating Italy’s Angela Carini, left -Credit:AP

“I tell her prove them wrong in the ring and I hope that she will honor Algeria and Arabic countries and win the gold medal. She is our role model, and we want to be like her and honor Algeria and Tiaret.”

Compounding the situation, Italian boxer Carini issued an apology to Khelif, deeply regretful over the furore resulting from their bout: “All this controversy makes me sad. I’m sorry for my opponent, too. … If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.”

Carini also expressed apologies for refusing the handshake after the fight, saying: “It wasn’t something I intended to do (ignoring the handshake),” and offered a conciliatory gesture: “Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke. I don’t have anything against Khelif. Actually, if I were to meet her again I would embrace her.”

Khelif’s saga continues as she prepares for her upcoming match against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori this Saturday

On Saturday, the Algerian Olympic committee issued a statement amid the ongoing controversy surrounding social media posts made by an opponent of their athlete. “The Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee concludes to the knowledge of national and international public opinion, that follows the official complaint submitted today by our Olympic body to the International Olympic Committee, regarding the violation and serious violation of sport ethics and affecting the Olympic Charter, in the person of our champion Imane Khelif, by one of the participants in the boxing tournament for the Olympic Games Paris 2024,”.

“The International Olympic Committee has issued a final apology to violators with an order to delete every post that concerns our heroine Iman Khalif. We reserve the right to prosecute everyone who participated in the heinous campaign against the heroine Iman Khalif. Good luck to our heroine and long live Algeria.”