The trainer of controversial Olympic gold medallist Imane Khelif has let slip that a “chromosome problem” led boxing bosses to ban her from competing in women’s competition last year.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified her after carrying out medical tests that suggested the powerful welterweight was “biologically male”.
But the Algerian ignored all opposition after the Olympics allowed her to compete as a woman, simply because her passport said “woman.”
Now her coach, Georges Cazorla, has confirmed that tests identified “a problem with hormones” and “with chromosomes”, suggesting she may have the XY gender chromosomes typical of a man.
“This poor young girl was devastated, devastated to suddenly discover that she was perhaps not a girl,” she told French magazine Le Point.
Imane Khelif celebrates with her gold medal after winning the women’s welterweight boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympics amid a storm of controversy
Khelif’s coach, Georges Cazorla, admitted that it was a “problem with hormones” and “with chromosomes” that led to her being previously banned from the women’s competition.
Italy’s Angela Carini threw her helmet to the ground and sobbed after taking two devastating blows from Khelif in the round of 16 on August 1.
The Naples police officer said she had “never been hit so hard in my life” as she lost in just 46 seconds to her opponent from across the Mediterranean.
Now, Spanish coach Rafa Lozano has revealed that Khelif was deemed too dangerous to be paired with women at a boxing retreat in Madrid ahead of the Olympics.
“They were doing a retreat at the Blume and we couldn’t put her with anyone,” he told Radio Marca.
“We put her with Jennifer Fernandez and it hurt her. Whoever we put her with him got hurt.”
She said trainers only found a match for her after pairing her with Jose Quiles, one of Spain’s top male boxers.
“I don’t think it’s fair,” he said. “Everyone can think what they want, but that’s how I see it.”
Khelif has been hailed as a national hero after defeating China’s Yang Liu in the final, and was selected as one of Algeria’s flag bearers for the Olympic closing ceremony in Paris on Sunday.
But the success of Khelif and Taiwanese gold medallist Lin Yu-Ting has put intense pressure on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to define who can compete in its women’s categories.
Khelif took gold after a fight with China’s Liu Yang on Friday, defying those who criticized her or spread misinformation about her gender.
Spain coach Rafa Lozano has revealed that Khelif was deemed too dangerous to be paired with women at a boxing retreat in Madrid ahead of the Olympics.
The organization has not conducted chromosomal testing since 1999 and stopped testing for elevated testosterone levels in 2021 after concluding that they impeded “equity, inclusion and non-discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual variation.”
“All those competing in the women’s category comply with the eligibility rules of the competition,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said last week.
‘Their passports show women and it is stated that they are women.’
But Carini was not the first former opponent to testify to the power of Khelif’s punches.
Mexican boxer Brianda Tamara Cruz said she was lucky to escape with her life after sharing the ring with the Algerian at the Golden Belt Series finals in Guadalajara in 2022.
“When I fought her I felt like she was way out of my league, the blows hurt a lot,” he said.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this in my 13 years as a boxer, not even in my fights with men.
‘Thank God I came out of the ring okay that day.’
On Friday, Olympic chief Thomas Bach again defended Khelif’s right to box but added he would be the first to adopt an agreed “scientifically sound system”.
“This system works and that’s why our decision is clear,” she added. “Women should be able to participate in women’s competitions and they are both women.”
The IBA has refused to share further details of its evidence, saying the “details” would “remain confidential”, and Khelif has now lodged a formal legal complaint with French prosecutors urging them to investigate the online harassment.
“After winning a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, boxer Imane Khelif has decided to take on a new battle: that of justice, dignity and honour,” her lawyer Nabil Boud said on Saturday.
‘Ms Khelif has hired (our) law firm, which yesterday filed a complaint for aggravated cyber harassment with the online hate unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office.
‘The criminal investigation will determine who started this misogynistic, racist and sexist campaign, but will also focus on who fueled this digital lynching.
‘The unfair harassment suffered by this boxing champion will remain as the biggest stain on these Olympic Games.’
Last year, Khelif was banned from the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi after tests indicated she had XY chromosomes.
But she won gold on Friday in the face of online hate and claims she is “biologically male.”
Khelif has filed a complaint with French police for aggravated cyberbullying and has slammed critics who “can’t digest my success”
The 25-year-old welterweight is now a national hero and was selected as one of Algeria’s flag bearers for the Olympic closing ceremony in Paris on Sunday.
But in its own statement, the IBA condemned “inconsistencies in eligibility” at the Paris Games, adding: “Both Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, following testing, did not meet the eligibility criteria required to compete in the women’s category of our respective events.
‘The urgency of the decision (to disqualify the boxers) was justified, as the safety of our boxers is our top priority.’
Khelif said at a press conference after winning her medal: “I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman and I have lived as a woman, but success has enemies that cannot be digested.”
She added: “Everything that is said about me on social media is immoral. I want to change the opinion of people around the world.”