Imane Khelif Advances to Women’s Boxing Final Amid Gender Controversy

Imane Khelif, the boxer at the center of a gender controversy, won her semi-final bout against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng by unanimous decision at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, advancing to the women’s final at Roland Garros.

Khelif, who won silver at the 2022 World Championships, and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting have been under intense scrutiny during the Olympics due to a gender dispute that has sparked widespread discussion on social media. After her win, Khelif chose not to address the controversy, focusing instead on her performance.

Previously, both Khelif and Lin were disqualified from the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi by the International Boxing Association (IBA). The IBA cited sex chromosome tests that deemed them ineligible. At those championships, Khelif had defeated Suwannapheng in the semi-finals but was disqualified before the final, which Suwannapheng subsequently won.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) took over boxing at the Paris Games after stripping the IBA of its governing status in 2023. The IOC dismissed the IBA’s tests as arbitrary, using the same eligibility rules as in the 2016 and 2021 Olympics, which do not include gender testing.

During the match, fans in the Court Philippe Chatrier, which was adapted for the event, showed strong support for Khelif, cheering and chanting her name. In the cautious first round, Khelif’s jab was more effective. Suwannapheng landed a powerful right hand in the second round, but Khelif’s superior technique helped her win the judges’ favor. Khelif aggressively pursued Suwannapheng in the final round, landing significant blows to secure the unanimous decision.

Both boxers displayed mutual respect after the fight, touching gloves. The crowd erupted in cheers when Khelif was announced as the winner. Khelif expressed satisfaction with her performance, celebrating with enthusiasm before undergoing a quick medical check.

Suwannapheng acknowledged Khelif’s strength, stating she had not closely followed the controversy but recognized Khelif as a formidable fighter.

Khelif will face Yang Liu of China in the final. Lin, who also advanced to the semi-finals in the featherweight category, will compete against Turkey’s Esra Yildiz on Wednesday.

The controversy around Khelif and Lin intensified when Khelif’s round-of-16 opponent, Angela Carini, withdrew from their bout after just 46 seconds, citing pain and safety concerns. This incident fueled the gender debate, drawing comments from public figures like JK Rowling and Elon Musk. Following the match, Carini apologized to Khelif and clarified that she bore no ill will towards her opponent.