Imane Khelif is moving on, and one of the biggest controversies at the Paris Olympics isn’t going away anytime soon.
Khelif, the Algerian boxer whose gender eligibility has become a source of dispute between the International Olympics Committee, the International Boxing Association and seemingly every person with an opinion, beat Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori by unanimous decision in Saturday’s welterweight quarterfinal bout.
Khelif is assured of an Olympic medal after a 5-0 decision.
The two boxers embraced hands at the end in a show of respect.
Khelif was disqualified at the 2023 world championships “after her elevated levels of testosterone failed to meet the eligibility criteria,” according to the IOC database.
An IOC spokesperson previously said Khelif is eligible for the Olympics, citing identification as female on her passport as the standard to meet.
The Russia-controlled IBA sanctions the world championships and uses different standards.
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS
Khelif’s forceful punches in the round-of-16 caused Italy’s Angela Carini to quit just 46 seconds into their preliminary match.
Carini, who could be awarded $50,000 by the IBA, later apologized to Khelif for sparking the controversy.
Hamori, the first Hungarian boxer in the Olympics, was undaunted before the match.
“I’m not scared,” Hamori told reporters. “I don’t care about the press story and social media. If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win.”
But it’s Khelif who is moving on because of an effective jab over the nine minutes.
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