Boxers disqualified after failing eligibility at the Women's World Boxing Championships 2023

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was disqualified from the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women's World Boxing Championships because she failed to adhere to the requirements for eligibility established by the regulatory body.

Imane Khelif (Image Credits - IBA)
By Abhiruchi Rout | Mar 26, 2023 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was disqualified from the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships because she failed to adhere to the requirements for eligibility established by the regulatory body. The IBA stated that Khelif had violated the eligibility rules and would be disqualified from the event. The Algerian was supposed to take on Yang Liu of China in the welterweight championship match at the K.D Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi, India.

According to reports, Imane Khelif had a hormone test done. The results revealed that her testosterone levels were higher than normal. She was disqualified as a result of this discovery. As a result, Janjaem Suwannapheng from Thailand whom Khelif had defeated in the semifinals took her place in the gold medal playoff. Moreover, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting who is the two-time world champion was disqualified from the competition for not meeting the IBA’s eligibility requirements.

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What Imane Khelif had to say in an interview

Svetlana Kamenova Staneva of Bulgaria received the bronze medal in the featherweight division that Lin was supposed to receive. Khelif asserted that she was the victim of a “conspiracy,” and that she had been informed that she possessed certain “characteristics” that made it impossible for her to fight against women. According to the Algerian website Kooora, Khelif said, “I was often bullied because of my appearance, and I resisted and continued to struggle despite everything. Today their plot succeeded, and frankly, I am experiencing a great shock.”

IBA’s Eligibility Rules

To protect athletes’ personal and medical information, the IBA has refrained from commenting on the eligibility requirements violation. Nonetheless, the IBA has stressed that it adheres to its rules and regulations. The Algerian Olympic Committee announced that it will assist Khelif with her medical needs and help her in getting ready for the African qualification competition for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, despite the disappointment of being disqualified.

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Khelif and Liu’s achievements

Khelif took silver in the World Championships 2022 last year in Istanbul, Turkey, losing in the light welterweight final to Ireland’s Amy Broadhurst. She is the current Mediterranean Games champion and took the gold medal at the African Championships in 2022. On the other hand,  Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting had clinched two gold medals in the World Championships in 2018 and 2022. This was going to be her fourth medal at the championships. Before losing to Kazakhstan’s Karina Ibragnimova in the featherweight semi finals, she had defeated Bulgaria’s Svetlana Kamenova Staneva to secure herself a medal.

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