Algerian boxer at center of gender controversy to compete for Olympic gold

Algeria’s Imane Khelif beat Thailand in the boxing ring this week putting her in the run for Olympic gold this Friday.

She and her supporters have also been waging a battle against critics after the International Boxing Association (IBA) accused her of failing gender testing at last year’s World Championships.

At a press conference on Monday, the IBA’s CEO said test results revealed chromosomes that made her and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting ineligible to compete in the women’s category. The association also said test results for both showed very high levels of testosterone, according to a report by The Independent.

The International Olympic Committee has dismissed the allegations as “illegitimate”.

The IBA, which has close ties to the Kremlin and has been accused of corruption, has been permanently banned from the Olympics.

In an interview with a tv affiliate of the Associated Press, Imane Khelif said the controversy had taken a toll.

“It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”

Khelif will take on China’s Yang Liu in the final battle for gold this Friday.