Photo: BUDDHA MENDES / Getty Images
Boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from the women’s world championshipwhich was held in New Dheli (India), after failing to meet the International Boxing Association (IBA) eligibility criteria.
This was announced by the agency through a statement where it did not specify the reasons for the disqualification, but it did ensure that would support the Algerian in her preparation for the African qualifying tournament for the Paris Olympics of the next year.
“The IBA respects its rules and regulations, as well as the personal and medical privacy of its athletes, so cannot share non-compliance with the eligibility criteria“, he expressed.
Khelif Imane 🇩🇿 is the titled athlete from Algeria and the finalist of the 2022 World Cup
Today she won her second fight 4-1 by split decision over Russia. In the 1-4 finals she will face number one seeded boxer from Uzbekistan Khamidova Navbakhor 🇺🇿 pic.twitter.com/FZeXC1oSZN
— IBA (@IBA_Boxing) March 21, 2023
According to the Algerian Olympic Committee, the declassification of their boxer was for medical reasons, but the media in that country reported that it was because his body’s testosterone levels were elevated.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Khelif said that his country was the object of a conspiracy so that it would not win the final. Besides, called on the Algerian State and people to accompany her in this difficult situation.
“Unfortunately, I was exposed to a conspiracy (…) I was prevented from participating in this final due to some characteristics that were considered unacceptable in the female category (…) Algeria was the object of a conspiracy, specifically by two countries, so that our flag would not be raised and we didn’t win the gold medal,” he said in a video shared on the social network.
Imane Khelif, 23, would participate in the final of the 145 lb division against the Chinese Yang Liubut was replaced by the Thai Janjaem Suwannapheng, who lost in the semifinals.
For her part, the two-time Taiwanese champion Lin Yu-ting also failed to meet the IBA eligibility criteria and lost his bronze medal. Bulgarian boxer Kamenova Staneva, who had lost in the quarterfinals of the championship, took the medal.
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