Imane Khelif Breaks Silence After IOC Announces New Rules

Imane Khelif has finally spoken out since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced new rules to protect women in sports. The Algerian boxer won gold in the women’s 66kg boxing event at the 2024 Paris Olympics amid controversy over her gender eligibility.

Controversy Surrounds Khelif’s Victory

Shortly after her opening match against Italy’s Angela Carini, it emerged that the International Boxing Association (IBA) had previously disqualified Khelif from the 2023 World Championships. The reason? She allegedly failed gender tests. Since then, debates about safety and fairness in women’s combat sports have intensified.

IBA president Umar Kremlev even demanded that Khelif return her Olympic gold medal. These heated discussions pushed the IOC to announce a ban on transgender athletes and those with differences in sexual development.

IOC’s Stance on Khelif’s Medal

Throughout the controversy, Khelif stayed silent. However, new IOC President Kirsty Coventry recently confirmed that Khelif will keep her gold medal. The IOC will not overturn the results from Paris.

At the same time, World Boxing introduced mandatory gender eligibility tests. Until Khelif completes this testing, she cannot compete in women’s boxing. This development may have prompted her to finally respond.

Khelif’s Response on Social Media

Khelif shared a selfie on her Instagram story with an inspiring caption:
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

She also included a clip of Sia’s song “I’m Still Here,” which highlights perseverance through tough battles. This post hints at her resilience amid ongoing challenges.

IOC’s New Measures to Protect Women’s Sports

Just days into her presidency, Coventry announced plans to form an expert working group focused on protecting women’s sports. She also confirmed the ban on transgender athletes in female categories.

Coventry stated:
“There was overwhelming support that we should protect the female category. We will set up a working group of experts and international federations to find consensus.”

She emphasized the IOC’s leadership role:
“We understand differences depending on the sport, but the IOC must emphasize protecting the female category.”

No Retrospective Actions Planned

Coventry addressed calls to strip Khelif of her medal, saying:
“We are not going to be doing anything retrospectively. We will focus on what we can learn from the past and how to move forward.”

Her remarks underline the IOC’s focus on future policies rather than revisiting past competitions.

Moving Forward

The controversy around Imane Khelif highlights complex challenges in women’s sports. With new IOC policies and Khelif’s own public stance, the conversation is far from over. Still, the focus remains on fairness, safety, and progress in the sporting world