Imane Khelif fights back tears and says 'I'm a woman' amid Olympic controversy

Imane Khelif fought back tears and cried "I am a woman" after beating Anna Luca Hamori by unanimous decision to guarantee an Olympic medal.

The Algerian fighter has been at the centre of major controversy at the Paris Olympics having been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing their gender eligibility test.

However, the IOC have raised doubts over the test and the IBA were stripped of their status as boxing's world governing body last year due to corruption allegations and governance problems.

"We don't know what the protocol was, we don't know whether the test was accurate, we don't know whether we should believe the test," IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said. "There's a difference between a test taking place and whether we accept the accuracy or even the protocol of the test."

And Khelif cut an emotional figure after winning her quarter-final bout against Hamori, meaning she will now face Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng in the semi-finals on Tuesday. Speaking after her win, Khelif told BBC Sport: "I feel good.

"It's the first medal in women's boxing in Algeria - I'm very happy. I want to thank all the world and the Arabic world - thank you so much." She then told an Algerian TV outlet: "I dominated. I dedicate this victory to the people of Algeria."

Khelif also spoke to reporters in the media mixed zone, where she was quoted as saying: "I want to tell the entire world that I am a woman, and I will remain a woman." IOC president Thomas Bach has also defended Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, who was also disqualified from last year's World Championships.

"Let's be very clear, we are talking about women's boxing," Bach said. "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."

And Khelif has thanked the IOC for their support, stating: "I am grateful to the IOC who spoke the truth. I am very proud to represent Algeria. Thanks to God, this is the first women’s medal for boxing in Algeria.

"In the Olympics there are no easy passes. Hopefully I will be ready for the next match for my country that I love so much. And I hope it will be a good one for the next generation."

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