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Imane Khelif said "attacks" over her gender eligibility gave her victory a "special taste" after she won Olympic women's boxing gold a year after being disqualified from the World Championships.

The Algerian was banned and reported to have failed gender eligibility tests but, having been allowed to compete in Paris, beat Chinese world champion Yang Liu by unanimous decision over five rounds to win welterweight gold.

"I am fully qualified to take part in this competition," said 25-year-old Khelif. "I am a woman like any other woman.

"I was born a woman. I have lived as a woman. I competed as a woman - there is no doubt about that."

Khelif said she had been a victim of "bullying" and that the International Boxing Association (IBA) "hate me and I really don’t know why".

In the arena she was roared to the ring by swathes of Algeria supporters, who waved their green, white and red flags.

Khelif dominated the fight and was showboating at the final bell, dancing while knowing victory was hers, before her and Yang shared a warm embrace.

When the result was confirmed, Yang raised Khelif's arm in the air - a contrast to the scenes after the Algerian's opening fight against Italy's Angela Carini - and the new champion was then carried around a jubilant arena on the shoulders of her coach.

Lin Yu-ting, who was also banned last year under the same ruling, will fight Poland's Julia Szeremeta in the featherweight final on Saturday.

Khelif had tears in her eyes and was applauded by Lin and bronze medallists Chen Nien-chin of Chinese Taipei and Thailan's Janjaem Suwannapheng as the Algerian national anthem was played.

Carini abandoned the first-round bout with Khelif after 46 seconds, saying she had to "preserve" her life.

Khelif, whose previous best result was a world silver in 2022, followed that bout with convincing, unanimous-decision victories to reach the final.

This was expected to be a tougher bout - Yang represented a step up in class - but it proved to be another clear victory.

Yang was due to face Khelif in the final of last year's World Championship - a title Wang went on to win - but Khelif was disqualified by the IBA before they met.

The IBA said Khelif and Lin "failed to meet the eligibility criteria for participating in the women's competition, as set and laid out in the IBA regulations".

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which runs the boxing events at the Olympics, allowed them to compete, raised doubts about the tests and strongly criticised the IBA, insisting Khelif and Lin were "born and raised as women".

President Thomas Bach said earlier on Friday that the IOC "does not like the uncertainty" but suggested there is not a "scientifically solid system" to "identify men and women".

Khelif said she has been criticised by "enemies of success".

"That also gives my success a special taste because of these attacks," she said.

A chaotic news conference held by the IBA last week did little to clear the confusion around Khelif and Lin's bans.

Chief executive Chris Roberts said the pair had "chromosome tests", while president Umar Kremlev appeared to suggest the tests determined the fighters' testosterone levels.

The BBC has been unable to determine what the eligibility tests consisted of.

The Russian-led IBA was stripped of its status as amateur boxing's governing body by the IOC in 2019 because of fears over its governance and regulation.

"They know me very well," Khelif said. "They know what I am capable, how I have developed over the years, but now they are not recognised any more.

"They hate me and I really don’t know why."

Khelif said she had sent a "single message" with her gold - that her "dignity and honour is above everything else".

"My message to the whole world is that they should to commit to Olympic principles and they should avoid bullying," she said.

"This is a message of the Olympic values.

"I hope people will stop bullying and commit to the Olympic charter. We are in the Olympic to perform as athletes. I hope we will not see similar attacks in the future."

Many of Khelif and Lin's opponents and their coaching teams have been unhappy with their involvement, indicating a level of discontent behind the scenes.

Immediately after her loss to Khelif, Carini said it "was not right", although she later apologised for how she handled the moments after the fight. Her coach said he had advised her not to fight, saying people had told her not to "fight a man".

Before Khelif's second-round fight, opponent Anna Luca Hamori from Hungary said "I don't think it is fair", while the Hungarian Boxing Association protested about Khelif's inclusion. After the fight Hamori wished Khelif good luck.

Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng said after her semi-final defeat: "She is a woman but very strong."

Two of Lin's opponents made 'X' gestures - said to be intended to represent female chromosomes - in the ring after defeat.

Bulgaria's Svetlana Kamenova Staneva left the arena saying "no, no, no" and made the 'X' sign.

Before the fight, she said Lin's presence was "not good for boxing", while her boxing federation said it "strongly" opposed Lin and Khelif’s participation at Paris 2024.

After losing to Lin in the semi-finals, Turkey's Esra Yildiz Kahraman made the 'X' sign in the centre of the ring.

https://www-bbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/c3ej8wqw0jjo.amp?amp

Algeria man indeed when she as been a woman all her life

There are times when nigerian way is the best. At a time like this, we will simply ask you to open up, if it's a hole, you are a woman, if it looks like a rod, you are a man simple.
God didn't call a woman a woman because she has x chromosome, God called her a woman because she is the mother of all human beings.
From the opening ceremony of this Olympic, it's clear who is behind this Olympic. If you know you know.
In nigeria, the definition of a man is the one who have the long thing, we make things simple some times.
It would have being very simple for the Olympic committee to address the reason the world boxing association banned this man from competing against women if they are on the side of the TRUE God

A woman with testicles?

OAFMods:
Algeria man indeed when she as been a woman all her life

Bcs she beat that Italian bitch with one blow una 4low western punk ass de tag her man

worksmart:
A woman with testicles?

Glad to know you pulled up her skirt and saw her testicles that no one else has seen.

The European are still bittered and angry over the destruction of their girl by the Algerian. They will cry tire.

Congratulations Imane Khelif.

Congrats to her....
Mk dem free the babe jooor!!! no be she create herself.
Tank you Imane Khelif for defeating that Chinko.

Probably reason he / she never wears skirts
I guess you must think s/he was banned from the last boxing World Champs just because of how s/he looks

S/he is genetically a male with XY chromosomes

budaatum:
Glad to know you pulled up her skirt and saw her testicles that no one else has seen.

Not confirmed female. S/he allegedly has genetics of a male.

SpaceX:
Why are people still dragging this matter, it's confirmed that she is a biological female. Simple as that. Congratulations to her to picking the gold medal!

worksmart:
Not confirmed. S/he allegedly has genetics of a male.

that's a plus to her and that doesn't mean she isn't female.

S/he is intersexed but more male as s/he has all the signs of having testicles whether internally or externally, the sport never banned h/er last year for no reason, they must have confirmed s/he has unfair advantage.

SpaceX:
that's a plus to he/r and that doesn't mean s/he isn't female.

This one na just tomboy she is a girl no transgender.

No s/he is intersex, with genetic male physiology and advantage; Boxing authorities do not ban females merely for being a tomboy S/he was banned last year.

Skooltynz:
This one na just tomboy she is a girl no transgender.

Female with Adam's apple

Everything about Khelif screams male. Those supporting her are homophobic Muslims.

S/he looks like s/he can grow a better beard than many men

Wetin the giant of Africa come carry? Congratulations Algeria. Nigerians, e be like say the new national anthem dey fear international outing. Tinubu return the former national anthem

worksmart:
Probably reason he / she never wears skirt.

Is wearing skirt now your evidence of gender?

worksmart:
A woman with testicles?

And you got this information from where?

Source, please.

worksmart:
A woman with testicles?

She doesn't have testicles.. She is just what is referred to as biological male based on high level testosterone... Every other body part is feminine

Frankiss44:
She doesn't have testicles.. She is just what is referred to as biological male based on high level testosterone... Every other body part is feminine

Having high testosterone doesn't make her a man.

PaZwoD:
Having high testosterone doesn't make her a man.

She has xy chromosomes instead of the xx for ladies.. And high testosterone give females men physical structures like muscles,built, facial hairs etc.. The Italian ladies she fought abandoned the game crying after 45 secs because the weight of the punches was something else

I love the headline