"My Daughter Is Definitely Female"… 'XY Chromosome' Boxer’s Father Appeals on TV [Paris Olympics]

"My Daughter Was Just Stronger Than the Italian Boxer"
IOC Maintains Position That Gender Cannot Be Determined by Chromosomes Alone

Imane Kelif (26, Algeria), who possesses the male sex chromosomes 'XY chromosomes,' has faced a flood of criticism for competing as a female athlete in the boxing event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Amid this, Kelif's father appeared in the media to appeal, stating, "My daughter is indeed a woman."

Kelif's father, Iman Kelif, said in an interview with an overseas online media outlet, "I have all the evidence that my daughter is a woman." He even showed Kelif's birth certificate to the camera, where she was listed as female. Iman repeatedly emphasized, "My daughter was simply stronger than the Italian boxer (who previously competed). That girl worked hard."

Imane Keliph showing the birth certificate of boxing athlete Imane Keliph, born in 1999. Although Keliph is female, she is an intersex individual with XY chromosomes and likely discovered her intersex status through a late examination.
[Image source=Capture from X]

Kelif also requested that the hateful criticism against her stop, saying it had gone too far. In an interview with AP News Sports video partner SNTV on the 4th (local time), Kelif said, "I send a message to people around the world to uphold the Olympic principles and charter and to refrain from harassing athletes."

She pointed out, "The criticism caused by misunderstandings about gender can destroy a person. It can kill people's thoughts, minds, and hearts. This divides people and ultimately harms human dignity."

Earlier, Kelif won a 5-0 decision against Enner Lucher Hermori (23, Hungary) in the women's 66kg quarterfinals held at the Arena Paris Nord in Paris, France. On the 1st, she also won by forfeit against Italian athlete Angela Carini in just 46 seconds. Angela stated at the time, "I felt severe pain in my nose and could not continue."

On the 1st (local time), in the women's 66kg round of 16 boxing match held at North Arena in Paris, France, Algerian Imane Khalif (right) faced Italy's Angela Carini and won by retirement in 46 seconds.
[Photo by AP·Yonhap News]

Although Kelif is a female athlete, it was confirmed that she possesses XY chromosomes. In this Olympic boxing competition, there are a total of two female athletes who have XY chromosomes.

However, they are not transgender individuals who have undergone sex reassignment surgery. These cases were discovered late through sex chromosome testing revealing the presence of XY chromosomes, and such cases are classified as 'intersex.' Intersex individuals often have all or part of both male and female reproductive organs, but typically only one side's sex hormones are secreted.

According to United Nations (UN) statistics, the global proportion of intersex individuals is only about 0.05% to 1.7%. Currently, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintains the position that sex cannot be determined solely by sex chromosomes such as XX or XY, and under the policy of defining gender and age based on passports, both athletes were allowed to compete in the Olympics.