Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif’s best friend, Roumaysa Boualam, disrupted a press conference organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which aimed to further discredit Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting. The IBA, which lost its Olympic credentials five years ago, claimed that both boxers failed gender eligibility tests, alleging they had XY chromosomes.
The two-hour press conference, described as “shambolic,” saw the BBC and other media outlets vacate the room in protest. Boualam, who also competed in the Olympics, entered the room waving the Algerian flag and passionately defended Khelif. She emphasized that Khelif has always been recognized as a female, saying, “Imane is really strong. She’s my friend. I want to support my country, and the truth, and my friend.”
Algerian boxer Roumaysa Boualam – who also competed in these Olympic Games – waved her country’s flag and explained to reporters why she came in support of Imane Khelif. Speaking about Khelif she told me “Every person portrayed like that would feel angry and frustrated” pic.twitter.com/wnSjQHhYqg
— Tyrone Francis (@TJFrancisLive) August 5, 2024
Boualam’s protest underscored the controversy surrounding Khelif’s eligibility to compete. Khelif’s father had previously shown her birth certificate on French TV to prove she was born female. Despite this, the IBA’s explanations failed to satisfy the press, who were promised a detailed account of why Khelif and Yu-ting were banned from the 2023 World Championships but received none.
Khelif is set to compete for the gold medal against China’s Yang Liu on August 9, with a silver medal already secured. This incident highlights ongoing debates about gender eligibility in sports and the support athletes receive from their peers in the face of controversy.
