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Elimination of the Algerian Iman Khalif, from the World Women’s Boxing Championship

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The decision of the International Boxing Federation (IBA) to exclude Algerian Iman Khalif from the World Women’s Boxing Championship held in the Indian capital, New Delhi, sparked widespread anger in the Algerian street during the past hours.

Khalif, the 23-year-old boxer, was on a date in the final with the Chinese, Yang Li, before the federation decided to exclude her from the world championship, to replace her, the Thai Janjaim Suanaving, and the reason, according to the International Federation, was due to “failing to meet the eligibility criteria.”

In a statement issued, the federation confirmed that it adheres to its “rules and regulations as well as the personal and medical privacy of the athletes,” and added, “Therefore, the APA cannot disclose (details of) this breach of the eligibility criteria.”

However, Algerian media reported that the reason behind the player’s exclusion was her “high testosterone level” (the male hormone).

The Algerian Boxing Federation published the news of Iman Khalif’s exclusion on its Facebook account without delving into the reasons, saying, “The International Boxing Federation prevents Algerian boxing Iman Khalif from participating in the world championship for health reasons.”

 

Algerian Boxing Federation official page

on Saturday
The International Boxing Federation (IBA) prevents Algerian boxing Iman Khalif from participating in the final of the world championship due to health reasons

Before the 66 kg boxing champion denied these words and confirmed that she had been subjected to a “conspiracy”.

And she expressed, in a video clip that was circulated on social media, her disappointment at the sudden decision to exclude her from the world championship that was scheduled for Sunday.

Khalif said in the video, “Unfortunately, I learned yesterday that I could not compete in the final… I am still proud of myself because I raised the flag of my country. This is a conspiracy for me… Saying that I have qualities and capabilities that do not qualify me to fight women is illogical…”.

Khalif stressed, “I am still proud of raising my country’s flag high… This is a conspiracy. There are parties that conspired against Algeria so that our country’s flag does not fly high and we do not win the gold medal.” And she indicated that she “conducted 4 fights without a problem… After all that, they tell me these words, I deeply regret this decision… It is a big conspiracy.”

The Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee published a picture of Iman on Facebook, and attached it to the following comment: “Iman Khalif is a symbol of challenge… Iman Khalif is the strongest and best… Let us all unite as one to support our star.”

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The Algerian Minister of Youth and Sports, Abd al-Rahman Hammad, said, on Sunday, in a statement to a local TV channel, that “the International Federation of Women’s Boxing is conducting pre-final analyzes, and that this analysis was conducted on the 16th and the results were issued on the 23rd, and the Algerian Federation appealed this morning, and the Executive Committee of the International Federation.” She did not accept the appeal and disqualified boxing.

Supportive comments poured in on social media platforms from media professionals and athletes, who affirmed their support for the player.

And sports commentator Hafeez Darraji wrote on Twitter, “Boxing” Iman Khalif “remains a champion in our view, despite her exclusion by the International Federation and preventing her from participating in the final of the World Championship held in New Delhi for health reasons that have not been discovered over seven years of practice, in which she participated in the Moscow Olympics. And four world championships, in its latest edition, won the silver.

Draghi called on the Algerian authorities to intervene to rehabilitate Khalif.

Lebanese journalist Sami Kleib tweeted, “Apart from abhorrent bullying and hateful gender, Iman Khalif remains an Algerian and Arab symbol, despite her exclusion from the World Championships.”

And the Algerian media, Anya Al-Afandi, asked why Khalif had not discovered the high level of the male hormone since the beginning of the tournament, and she continued in a tweet she posted on Twitter, saying, “In any case, we are proud of her and all her achievements.”

The Chinese Federation, whose boxing would face Iman in the final, had filed a complaint with the International Federation of the game.

 

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