Algerian Olympic Committee release statement defending Imane Khelif

They have backed their fighter with a strongly-worded statement.

The Algerian Olympic Committee have released an emphatic statement in defence of boxer Imane Khelif.

Khelif's qualification for the Olympics has been criticised by many on social media, after a DNA test conducted last year at the Women's World Championships revealed that she had the XY chromosome.

Italian boxer Angela Carini faced the Algerian Khelif on Thursday but the match lasted just 46 seconds before Carini abandoned the fight with a suspected broken nose.

She refused to shake her opponents hand and knelt in the ring and cried following the conclusion of the fight.

Neither Khelif nor Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting – another fighter who was disqualified from last year's World Championships for failing gender eligibility tests – have ever identified as male, transgender, or as intersex.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which runs the Olympic boxing events, said the disqualification was as a result of elevated levels of testosterone in her system.

Since yesterday's controversial bout, several big names in the world of boxing have spoken out about Khelif's legitimacy to compete.

British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said "the world has gone a little bit crazy", while former world champion Barry McGuigan took to X and wrote: “It’s shocking that they were actually allowed to get this far, what is going on?”

It’s shocking that they were actually allowed to get this far, what is going on ? https://t.co/kOhsCBYUlb

— Barry McGuigan (@ClonesCyclone) July 29, 2024

Now, Algeria's Olympic Committee have backed their fighter with a statement of their own.

The AOC said: "The International Olympic Committee has reaffirmed its commitment to ensure that all athletes participating in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games comply with the eligibility and compliance rules.

"Our team athletes, including our champion, have always adhered to these regulations in all international competitions. We strongly support our heroine and continue to defend her rights as a fair and qualified competition."

It follows a similar statement from the International Olympic Committee after yesterday's fight.

“Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination," they said.

"All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU) (please find all applicable rules here).

"As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport.”