Imane Khelif’s dad finally settles Olympics gender row as he reveals official documents

Imane Khelif has courted controversy at the Olympics after her first-round boxing bout with Italian rival Angela Carini was abandoned after just 46 seconds and her dad has now broken his silence

Imane Khelif ’s dad has confirmed that the Algerian boxing star WAS born female in a scathing response to the ongoing Olympics row.

Khelif has been at the heart of controversy in Paris since her first-round boxing fight with Italian rival Angela Carini. The bout was abandoned by Carini after just 46 seconds, while she was then spotted in tears after the win was handed to Khelif.

There has been widespread criticism after it was revealed the Algerian failed to meet gender eligibility criteria and was subsequently disqualified by the IBA last year. But the International Olympics Committee do not have such rules, clearing Khelif to fight in Paris.

And her Dad has now thrown his weight into the debate by confirming that his daughter was born female. As per Mail Online, Amar Khelif showed an official document dated May 2, 1999, which confirmed that she was born a girl.

He then launched into a scathing take-down of the ongoing criticism of his daughter, while also demanding she now go on to win Olympic gold. Speaking to Mail Online, he said: “The attacks against her are immoral, it is not fair.

“Imane is a little girl that has loved sport since she was six-years-old, she used to play football. These critics and rumours aim to destabilise Imane, they don’t want her to be the champion of the world.

“I tell her prove them wrong in the ring and I hope that she will honour Algeria and Arabic countries and win the gold medal. She is our role model, and we want to be like her and honour Algeria and Tiaret.”

Khelif senior’s comments come amid an apology from Italian boxer Carini. She has sent a message to Khelif apologising for the controversy that their fight has caused in the immediate aftermath.

And she has also admitted her regret at snubbing Kehlif’s post-fight handshake. She said: “All this controversy makes me sad. I’m sorry for my opponent, too. … If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.”

Imane Khelif (bottom right) and her father

Imane Khelif’s participation at the Olympics has courted debate ( Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
“It wasn’t something I intended to do [ignoring the handshake],” Carini added. “Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke. I don’t have anything against Khelif. Actually, if I were to meet her again I would embrace her.”

Khelif is set to be back in action against Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori on Saturday as she continues her Olympic journey. The latter has already spoken out ahead of the fight but appears to have performed a u-turn on her opinion.

On Saturday, the Algerian Olympic committee released a statement amid the ongoing controversy, regarding the social media posts from her next opponent. “The Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee concludes to the knowledge of national and international public opinion, that follows the official complaint submitted today by our Olympic body to the International Olympic Committee, regarding the violation and serious violation of sport ethics and affecting the Olympic Charter, in the person of our champion Imane Khelif, by one of the participants in the boxing tournament for the Olympic Games Paris 2024,

“The International Olympic Committee has issued a final apology to violators with an order to delete every post that concerns our heroine Iman Khalif. We reserve the right to prosecute everyone who participated in the heinous campaign against the heroine Iman Khalif. Good luck to our heroine and long live Algeria.”