Khelif Reaches Olympic Final Amid Controversy

Imane Khelif, one of the two boxers at the heart of a gender dispute at the Paris Olympics, vowed to put the controversy behind her and make Algeria and the Arab world proud.

Khelif delivered a flawless performance against Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng to reach the final of the welterweight tournament in front of the massed Algerian fans at a repurposed Court Philippe Chatrier.

When Khelif was announced as winner, the crowd, waving Algerian flags and scarves, let out an ear-splitting roar.

"I don't want to talk about the controversy," Khelif told reporters.

Khelif, a silver medallist at the 2022 world championships, and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting have been in the spotlight at the Paris Games as part of a storm that has dominated headlines and been the subject of much discussion on social media platforms.

Khelif and Lin were disqualified by the International Boxing Association from the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi, with the body saying in a shambolic press conference that a sex chromosome test had ruled both of them ineligible.

Khelif and Lin are competing in the Olympics after the International Olympic Committee stripped the IBA of its status as the sport's governing body in 2023 and took control of organizing the boxing in Paris.

The IOC has rejected the results of the IBA-ordered tests as arbitrary and illegitimate, saying there was no reason to conduct them.

At these Games, the IOC is using boxing eligibility rules that were applied at the 2016 and 2021 Olympics which do not include gender testing.

Kellie Harrington beat Yang Wenlu of China by split decision in the final of the lightweight category at the Paris Olympics to retain her crown and become the first Irish boxer to win back-to-back gold medals.

After clinching victory, Harrington said she was hanging up her gloves.