OLYMPIC GAMES | BOXING
Who is Imane Khelif, and is she a trans athlete at the Olympics?
Angela Carini of Italy withdrew from Imane Khelif of Algeria’s Olympic boxing debut battle on Thursday after only 46 seconds of action.
Before Angela Carini dropped out of the fight against Algerian Imane Khelif, an extraordinarily rare event in Olympic boxing in itself, Khelif and Carini were in the ring for only 46 seconds. Apparently, her headwear came off twice, a testament to the strength of the Algerian’s punches. The fight gained a lot of attention because prominent figures like Elon Musk have claimed the African fighter is a trans athlete, adding in a tweet that this is the America Kamala Harris wants.
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Khelif suffered a significant setback in 2023 when a gender eligibility test disqualified her from the World Championships. The test revealed elevated levels of testosterone, leading to questions about her eligibility to compete in the women’s category. This controversy sparked a heated debate within the sports community, but there is no indication that she is a trans athlete other than a woman with a medical condition.
What are the Olympic rules regarding transgender athletes?
Despite the controversy, it is important to note that Imane Khelif is not a transgender athlete. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) conducted a thorough review and ultimately affirmed her eligibility to compete in the women’s category at the 2024 Olympics. This decision was based on the IOC’s regulations and guidelines, which aim to ensure fair competition while respecting the rights of all athletes.
Testosterone Levels: Previously, transgender women had to demonstrate lower testosterone levels for 12 months before competing. The revised requirement no longer considers relying solely on testosterone levels to be sufficient.
Transition Age: To compete in the women’s category at the Paris 2024 Olympics, transgender women must have completed their transition before the age of 12.
In the age of hyper-velocity of information, it is sad to see that one of the world’s most important figures, like Elon Musk, feeds people with misinformation in what seems like a ploy to gain popularity with certain groups in society. The Twitter owner, who vowed to make the platform one of transparency, has failed to follow his own advice.