Algeria condemns targeting of boxer Khelif over gender test

PARIS : Algeria's Olympic committee (COA) on Wednesday condemned "baseless" attacks on boxer Imane Khelif amid scrutiny of her participation in the Olympics after her disqualification from a tournament last year for failing a gender eligibility test.

Khelif was disqualified hours before her gold medal bout at the World Championships in New Delhi when she failed to meet the International Boxing Association's (IBA) eligibility criteria.

She has, however, been ruled eligible to compete in the boxing competition at the Paris Olympics, which is being organised by the International Olympic Committee, and will face Italian Angela Carini in a welterweight bout on Thursday.

"COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets," it said in a statement.

"Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics. The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion."

Italy's Family Minister Eugenia Roccella and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi voiced rconcern about the eligibility rules on Wednesday.

"It is surprising that there are no certain, strict, uniform criteria at the international level," Roccella said.

She added that it was strange "that there can be a suspicion, and far more than a suspicion, of an unfair and potentially dangerous contest for one of the contenders at the Olympics, an event that symbolises sporting fairness".

Abodi questioned a lack of alignment in "parameters of minimum hormonal values.

"In the event that represents the highest values of sport, the safety of female and male athletes must be guaranteed, as well as respect