Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is guaranteed at least a bronze medal after beating Anna Luca Hamori in the 66kg category at the Olympics.
Khelif’s eligibility for the Games has hit the headlines over the past few days following her 46-second win over Italian Angela Carini earlier this week.
The 25-year-old was disqualified at the World Championships last year by the International Boxing Association for failing to meet gender eligibility criteria but can fight at the Olympics as the IOC operates under different regulations.
Hamori insisted beforehand she wasn’t scared at the thought of facing Khelif but did post a series of provocative and offensive images about her opponent on social media.
The North African got her revenge in the ring, winning via a unanimous decision despite being docked a point for holding in the third and final round.
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Khelif has been under enormous scrutiny over the past few days and was seen shedding a tear in the ring after her win.
She fights Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in the semi-finals. Suwannapheng is the eighth seed with Khelif seeded five.
IOC president Thomas Bach insisted this morning that Khelif, and Taiwan fighter Lin Yu-ting who is also banned by the IBA, were both women and should be allowed to compete in Paris.
He said: “Let’s be very clear, we are talking about women’s boxing.
“We have two boxers who are born as a woman, who have been raised as a woman, who have a passport as a woman and who have competed for many years as a woman.
“This is the clear definition of a woman. There was never any doubt about them being a woman.”
The Russian-backed IBA said earlier Saturday they would award Carini with $50,000 in prize money despite her swift defeat to Khelif.
“I do not understand why they killed women’s boxing,” IBA president Umar Kremlev said. “Only eligible athletes should compete in the ring for the sake of safety. I could not look at her tears.”
