Imane Khelif's Father Says 'Having Such a Daughter Is an Honor' amid Olympic Controversy

Mar. 15, 2025

From Left: Omar Khelif; and Imane Khelif at the Olympics.Photo:AFP via Getty Images; Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty Images

Omar Khelif, the father of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, shows a picture of his daughter as a child as he sits accompanied by his two young children in the family home in the province of Tiaret on August 2, 2024.; Imane Khelif (red) of Team Algeria competes against Anna Luca Hamori (blue) of Team Hungary in the women’s 66kg quarter-final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

AFP via Getty Images; Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty Images

On Saturday, Aug. 3, the boxer’s dad Amar Khelif opened up in an interview withReutersabout his daughter’s passion for boxing — and said that her recent streak of wins that have guaranteed her at least a bronze have made him proud.

“Having such a daughter is an honor because she is a champion, she honored me and I encourage her and I hope she will get the medal in Paris,” Amar told Reuters. “Imane is a little girl that has loved sport since she was six-years-old.”

Omar Khelif (right) on August 2, 2024.AFP via Getty Images

Omar Khelif, the father of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, shows a picture of his daughter as a child as he sits accompanied by his two young children in the family home in the province of Tiaret on August 2, 2024.

AFP via Getty Images

While speaking to the outlet, Khelif’s father also shared an official-looking document, which showed her birthday and sex. “This is our family official document, May 2, 1999, Imane Khelif, female. It is written here you can read it, this document doesn’t lie,” he said.

Khelif has been the center of a gender-based controversy following her match on Thursday, Aug. 1, against Italian boxerAngela Carini, who bowed out of her matchagainst Khelif, citing a severe nose injury.

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The IBA claimed at the time that the results of the eligibility test showed that Khelif had elevated levels of testosterone, but other officials in the boxing world argued that the test results were not transparent, and the IBA has since been suspended from being part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to allegations of corruption,according to ESPN.

The IOC has since reaffirmed its decision to allow Khelif to compete in the games. According to theAP, “Khelif was assigned female at birth and it says so on her passport, which is the International Olympic Committee’s threshold for eligibility for boxing.”

From Left: Imane Khelif competes against Anna Luca Hamori during the Olympics.Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty

mane Khelif (red) of Team Algeria competes against Anna Luca Hamori (blue) of Team Hungary in the women’s 66kg quarter-final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena, in Villepinte, France on August 3, 2024

Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty

“I am in contact with my family two days a week. I hope that they weren’t affected deeply,” the boxer said, acknowledging her recent controversies. “They are worried about me. God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, and that would be the best response,” she continued, according to the Associated Press, sharing her appreciation for the Olympic Committee for doing her “justice.”

Khelif is next set tocompete in the semifinalson Tuesday, Aug. 6 against Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand.

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source: people.com

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