by The coach of controversial Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif has revealed that a “chromosome problem” led boxing federations to exclude her from women’s competitions last year.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified her after medical tests suggested that the strong welterweight was “biologically male.”
But the Algerian brushed aside all resistance after she was allowed to participate in the Olympic Games as a woman, simply because her passport said “woman”.
Now her trainer Georges Cazorla has confirmed that the tests revealed “a hormonal problem” and “a chromosomal problem”. This suggests that she may have the XY sex chromosomes typical of a man.
“This poor young girl was devastated. Devastated when she suddenly discovered that she might not be a girl,” he told French magazine Le Point.
Imane Khelif celebrates her gold medal victory in women’s welterweight boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games amid a storm of controversy
Khelif’s coach Georges Cazorla admitted that it was a “hormonal and chromosomal problem” that led to her previous exclusion from women’s competitions.
Italy’s Angela Carini threw her helmet on the ground and sobbed after suffering two devastating blows from Khelif in the round of 16 on August 1.
The policewoman from Naples said she had “never been hit so hard in her life” as she lost to her opponent from across the Mediterranean in just 46 seconds.
Now Spanish national coach Rafa Lozano has explained during a boxing training session in Madrid before the Olympic Games that Khelif was considered too dangerous to mate with women.
“They were doing a retreat at Blume and we couldn’t accommodate them with anyone,” he told Radio Marca.
“We put her together with Jennifer Fernandez and it hurt her. Whoever put her together got hurt.”
He said the trainers only found a match for her after assigning her an opponent named Jose Quiles, one of Spain’s leading male boxers.
“I don’t think that’s fair,” he said. “Everyone can think what they want, but that’s how I see it.”
Khelif was hailed as a national hero after beating China’s Yang Liu in the final and was chosen as one of Algeria’s flag bearers for the Olympic closing ceremony in Paris on Sunday.
But the success of Khelif and Taiwanese gold medalist Lin Yu-Ting put enormous pressure on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to narrow the number of participants in the women’s categories.
Khelif won the gold medal on Friday after a fight with China’s Liu Yang, defying those who criticized her or spread false information about her gender.
Spanish national coach Rafa Lozano explained at a boxing training session in Madrid before the Olympic Games that Khelif was considered too dangerous to mate with women.
The organization has not conducted chromosome testing since 1999 and stopped testing for elevated testosterone levels in 2021 after concluding that it prevented “fairness, inclusion and non-discrimination based on gender identity and sex variation.”
“All participants in the women’s category adhere to the eligibility rules,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said last week.
“In their passports they are women and it is noted that they are women.”
But Carini was not the first former opponent to testify to the power of Khelif’s punches.
Mexican boxer Brianda Tamara Cruz said she was lucky to escape with her life after sharing the ring with the Algerian at the 2022 Golden Belt Series final in Guadalajara.
“When I fought her, I felt like I couldn’t achieve anything. The blows hurt me a lot,” she said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt like that in my 13 years as a boxer, not even when sparring with men.”
“Thank God I got out of the ring OK that day.”
On Friday, Olympic chief Thomas Bach again defended Khelif’s right to box, but added that he would be the first to accept an agreed “scientifically based system”.
“This system works and therefore our decision is clear,” he added. “Women should be allowed to compete in women’s competitions and these two are women.”
The IBA refused to provide further details of its tests, saying the “details” would “remain confidential.” Khelif has now filed a formal complaint with the French public prosecutor’s office, asking them to investigate the online harassment.
“Having just won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, boxer Imane Khelif has decided to take up a new fight: that of justice, dignity and honour,” her lawyer Nabil Boud said on Saturday.
“Ms Khelif recruited (our) company, which yesterday filed a complaint for serious cyber harassment with the online hate unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office.
“The criminal investigation will clarify who initiated this misogynistic, racist and sexist campaign, but will also focus on who supported this digital lynching.”
“The unfair harassment that this boxing champion had to endure will remain the biggest stain on these Olympic Games.”
Khelif was disqualified from the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi last year after tests revealed she has XY chromosomes.
But she won gold on Friday despite online hate, claiming she is “biologically male.”
Khelif has filed a complaint with the French police for serious cyber harassment and sharply criticized critics who “cannot digest my success.”
The 25-year-old welterweight is now a national hero and has been chosen as one of Algeria’s flag bearers for the Olympic closing ceremony in Paris on Sunday.
But in its own statement, the IBA condemned “eligibility inconsistencies” at the Paris Games, adding: “Both Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting did not meet the required eligibility criteria to compete in the women’s category of our respective events following testing.”
“The urgency of the decision (to disqualify the boxers) was justified as the safety of our boxers is our top priority.”
After winning her medal, Khelif said at a press conference: “I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman and I have lived as a woman, but success has enemies and they cannot digest my success.”
She later added: “Everything that is said about me on social media is immoral. I want to change the minds of people all over the world.”
