“I’m leaving with my head held high.”
Khelif’s highly publicized victory followed her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships due to an unspecified gender eligibility test failure.
At the time, the International Boxing Association stated that the athlete had elevated levels of testosterone.
According to Reuters, Khelif’s disqualification was due to the IBA eligibility rules, which barred athletes with XY chromosomes from competing in women’s events.
However, the athlete was deemed eligible to compete in the 2024 Olympics, a competition organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Imane Khelif is allowed to compete in the Olympics despite being banned from other competitions. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
On Tuesday, July 30, the IOC defended Khelif’s right to compete, just before her latest victory.
“Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the competition eligibility rules,” said IOC spokesperson Mark Adams.
“They are women according to their passports, and it is stated that they are female,” Mark Adams added.
