After the “sexual eligibility” controversy, Algerian boxer Iman Khalif breaks her silence

The 25-year-old Algerian champion spoke about her difficult experience in the French capital during an interview with SNTV, the Associated Press’ video partner, on Sunday evening.

Iman, who was born in the city of Sougueur, also expressed her gratitude to the International Olympic Committee and its president, Thomas Bach, for standing firmly by her side after the International Boxing Federation put obstacles in the way of her participation in the Olympic Games, since she was excluded from the gold medal match in the Women’s Federation Championship in March 2023.

Iman secured Algeria’s first Olympic medal since 2000, after defeating Hungary’s Luca Anna Harmony in the quarter-finals of the middleweight (66kg) boxing competition, on Saturday.

Iman is scheduled to appear in the semi-final match tomorrow, Tuesday, against Thailand’s Jangam Suwannaphing, and if she wins, she will play in the gold medal match on Friday at Roland Garros.

The boxing victories of Iman, as well as Taiwanese Lin Yu-ting, became the biggest stories of the Paralympics, with both athletes becoming the subject of media and social media debate around the world, which was not without bullying in many cases.

Among those who have entered the controversy, claiming that Iman is transgender, are former US President and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, and J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series.

Source: AP