Algerian boxer Imane Khelif taking legal action after new eligibility claims, says IOC

Fighter won Olympic welterweight gold against backdrop of a social media storm in Paris this summer

Imane Khelif won gold in the welterweight division of the women's boxing competition at Paris 2024. PA

Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who won Olympic gold amid a gender eligibility row, is taking legal action over media reports allegedly detailing her leaked medical records, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.

A report published last week in French magazine Le Correspondant claimed to have seen a medical report about the Algerian. The IOC said the report was based on “unverified documents whose origin cannot be confirmed”.

The boxer won gold in the women’s welterweight competition at this summer’s Games in Paris following a huge controversy which was sparked by the International Boxing Association saying she had previously been disqualified for failing gender eligibility criteria.

Khelif’s first opponent in Paris, the Italian fighter Angela Carini, signalled she could not continue with their bout 46 seconds in, saying she “had never felt a punch like this”. Carini later apologised and said she regretted her actions.

Khelif filed a legal complaint with the French authorities over the online abuse and harassment she was subjected to during the Games, and the IOC said on Wednesday she was now also taking action over the new reports which emerged earlier this week.

The author J.K. Rowling, US president-elect Donald Trump and X owner Elon Musk were among those to question Khelif's participation in the Games.

The IOC said it was “saddened” by the abuse Khelif had received since her appearance in Paris.

“We understand that Imane Khelif has taken legal action against individuals who commented on her situation during the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and is also preparing a lawsuit in response to the latest reporting,” an IOC spokesperson said.

“The IOC will not comment while legal action is ongoing, or on media reports about unverified documents whose origin cannot be confirmed.”

The statement pointed out Khelif had been competing in women’s boxing “for many years”, including at the previous Games in Tokyo as well as IBA-sanctioned events.

The IBA was stripped of recognition by the IOC last year over several governance failures. That meant it was the IOC which ran – and set the eligibility criteria for – the Olympic boxing tournament in Paris.

The IOC statement added: “All the athletes who participated in the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 complied with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, together with all the applicable medical regulations enacted by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU).

“As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes were based on their passport details.”

The IOC said the same rules had applied during the qualification period.

The statement continued: “The IOC is committed to protecting the human rights of all athletes who have taken part in the Olympic Games as per the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics and the IOC Strategic Framework on Human Rights. The IOC is saddened by the abuse that Imane Khelif is currently receiving.”

Khelif said after winning gold: “I am fully qualified to take part in this competition – I am a woman. I was born a woman, I’ve lived as a woman and I’ve competed as a woman. There’s no doubt that there are enemies of success and that gives my success a special taste because of these attacks.”

Algerian fans came out and backed her in large numbers in Paris, while she was given a rapturous welcome upon her return to Algeria after winning gold.