After new misinformation surfaced regarding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) has stated that the athlete fulfills all criteria for competition participation and is officially classified as female.
Claim: STARTLING DEVELOPMENT IN THE WORLD OF BOXING: Imane Khelif faces lifetime ban following WBO's recognition of him as male, resulting in the forfeiture of all medals and $25 million in winnings.
The Facebook post was shared by Koa Smith, a professional surfer hailing from Hawaii who boasts approximately half a million followers. This particular post went live on March 14 and has since garnered over 80,000 interactions.
INSPIRATIONS DIGITALFact check: False
INSPIRATIONS DIGITAL sought clarification from the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
"As per a written statement from the Organization dated March 19, 'She is acknowledged as a woman,' " is what was recorded.
"The world of boxing is currently assessing guidelines for gender diversity, and any resulting rule modifications will be implemented accordingly," it stated.
This isn't the first time she has faced false accusations.
The discussion around the Algerian pugilist erupts repeatedly on social media at consistent time frames.
The athlete is alleged to be a male impersonator and improperly competing. participating in the ladies' division . The accusations are paired with defamatory comments about the so-called "woke" Olympic Games and hatred of trans women.
In September and October of 2024, organizations such as the Australian Associated Press (AAP) and Reuters debunked equivalent or comparable misinformation through their fact-checking efforts.
Retroactively disqualified
In October 2024, the WBO informed the BBC that claims about Olympic champion Imane Khelif being barred and having her Paris gold medal revoked due to failing gender-specific fitness exams were "clearly untrue."
Born on May 2, 1999, in Tiaret, Algeria, Khelif faced an unexpected turn of events when she was removed from the women's boxing world championships hosted by the International Boxing Association (IBA) in March 2023. This happened following her win over undefeated Russian boxer Azalia Amineva, as she was later disqualified with retrospective effect.
The IBA stated that a "verified" test found Khelif to have an edge over her female counterparts. The specifics of this assessment were considered confidential and remained unpublished.
Conflict between the IOC and the IBA
Until this week, Thomas Bach, who served as the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has consistently dismissed criticisms regarding Imane Khelif's gender identity.
Last October, he informed the global media that both Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting grew up and were brought up as females before competing in the women's division.
On August 1, 2024, the IOC issued an official statement condemning the "inaccurate reports regarding two women athletes participating in the Olympic Games in Paris 2024."
Both athletes fell victim to an abrupt and capricious ruling made by the IBA.
In 2023, the IOC revoked the recognition of the International Boxing Association following its suspension in 2019 over accusations of corruption. This stance was supported by international sports law when the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne dismissed the IBA’s appeal against this ruling in April 2024.
Between 2019 and 2023, the IOC was responsible for organizing the boxing events during the Olympic Games. Following their ultimate suspension, control shifted to the World Boxing Organization (WBO), established in Puerto Rico back in 1988. As one of the four principal bodies governing professional boxing, the WBO approves sanctioned matches and bestows world championships within this sport.
Imane Khelif enjoys immense popularity in her home country of Algeria and has been celebrated as a heroine since then. Olympic victory At the 2024 Games in Paris, Khelif’s achievements have had a broader impact beyond the realm of sports. To her supporters, she serves as a role model who questions conventional norms and reshapes perceptions of womanhood in athletics.
Edited by: Rachel Baig
Author: Astrid Prange de Oliveira
0 Comments