July 30th 2024.
Imane Khelif, a talented boxer from Algeria, proudly represented her country at the Tokyo Olympics. However, she faced a major setback when she was disqualified at the 2023 world championships due to the results of gender eligibility tests. Along with another female boxer, Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan, they were deemed ineligible to compete. This caused quite a stir in the boxing community, but both Khelif and Lin were determined to make a comeback.
Fortunately, their hard work and dedication paid off as they were able to comply with all the rules and regulations set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and were given the green light to compete at the Paris Olympics. This will be their second appearance at the Summer Games, after both athletes finished outside the medals at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
In a statement, the IOC reassured the public that all the athletes participating in the boxing tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics have met the eligibility and entry requirements, as well as all necessary medical regulations. This was a relief for Khelif and Lin, who were both removed from their events at the 2023 world championships in New Delhi.
The reason for their disqualification at the world championships was due to the ongoing dispute between the IOC and the International Boxing Association (IBA), which has been banned from Olympic boxing since before the Tokyo Games. This resulted in different outcomes for Khelif and Lin at the Olympics and the world championships.
The IOC acknowledged that the rules for the Paris Olympics are based on those used at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics eight years ago, and they have appointed officials to oversee the boxing tournament for the second consecutive Summer Games. This was done in response to the allegations of governance and integrity issues within the IBA, as well as their reliance on funding from state energy firm Gazprom.
Khelif, who is 25 years old, won a silver medal at the 2022 world championships, while Lin, at 28 years old, is a two-time gold medalist. Despite their past disqualification, they are determined to prove themselves at the Paris Olympics. Fans can follow their journey through The Agency's live blog for updates.
The IOC database, which contains information on over 10,700 athletes competing at the Paris Olympics, highlighted the experiences of both Khelif and Lin at the 2023 world championships. Khelif was disqualified just hours before her gold medal match against a Chinese opponent due to her elevated levels of testosterone not meeting the eligibility criteria. On the other hand, Lin was stripped of her bronze medal after failing to meet the eligibility requirements based on a biochemical test.
But now, both athletes are focused on their upcoming matches at the North Paris Arena. Khelif will be facing off against Italy's Angela Carini in the 66-kilogram category on Thursday, while Lin, as the top seed in the 57-kilogram category, will have her first bout on Friday in the round of 16. The medal bouts for boxing at the Paris Olympics will take place at the iconic Roland Garros tennis venue.
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