“I faced a lot of controversy regarding my gender” - Dutee Chand on Imane Khelif gender controversy in Paris Olympics 2024
Former Indian track and field athlete Dutee Chand has shared her perspective on the recent controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who has been categorized as a ‘biological male’ by IBA at the Paris Olympics 2024. Notably, her opponent from Italy, Angela Carini, withdrew from the game after just 46 seconds.
Dutee Chand, who has faced similar issues in the past, recounted her own experience with controversy related to gender.
The 28-year-old highlighted that in 2014, she challenged the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) rule that barred athletes with a higher testosterone level from competing in the women’s sport.
"In 2014, I challenged the IOC's rule that a person with a higher testosterone level should not participate in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. It was noted that hormonal levels cannot increase athletic performance. I suffered a lot at that time. I faced a lot of controversy regarding my gender," Dutee Chand told PTI.
"Yesterday, during the Olympic match, (Angela) Carini gave up and now she is complaining about the Algerian boxer because of high testosterone levels. When you play in the Olympics, you undergo several tests. I don't think it is right to create controversy about this on social media," she added.
Dutee Chand was part of a similar controversy in her career
An Indian athlete, under anonymity, accused Dutee Chand of being an illegal participant due to her high testosterone levels in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda.
Dutee was faced with the choice of reducing her testosterone levels to below the male range, either by taking hormone-suppressing drugs or undergoing surgery to limit testosterone production. Instead of choosing either method, she challenged the IOC’s rule at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
Interestingly, Imane Khelif was banned by the International Boxing Association at the World Boxing Championships in 2023. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed her to fight.
At the Paris Olympics 2024, her opponent Carini refused to shake hands with Khelif after a one-sided fight. She cried in the ring after falling onto her knees.