PARIS: Algeria's Olympic Committee condemned "unethical attacks" on boxer Imane Khelif ahead of her opening bout at the Paris Games today after she failed a gender eligibility test last year.
Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, who fights tomorrow, were disqualified from the world championships last year but deemed eligible to box in the women's competition in Paris.
Both boxed in the women's event at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
Algeria's Olympic Committee (COA) "denounces in the strongest terms the malicious and unethical attacks directed against our distinguished athlete, Imane Khelif, by certain foreign media", it said in a statement released hours before her bout against Angela Carini of Italy in the 66kg division.
The COA hit out at "lies" that it said were "completely unfair".
"We are all with you, Imane," it added. "The whole nation supports you."
Khelif and Lin were disqualified from the 2023 world championships in New Delhi, which was run by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
The IOC website for accredited media in Paris said that the 25-year-old Khelif was disqualified after "elevated levels of testosterone failed to meet the eligibility criteria".
Lin was stripped of her bronze medal after undergoing "biochemical" tests mandated by the IBA.
However, the International Olympic Committee is running the boxing in the French capital because of governance, financial and ethical issues at the IBA.
At least one boxer at the Games has spoken out.
Australis's Caitlin Parker is in the 75kg weight class so will not face Khelif or Lin, but she made her stance about them clear.
"I don't agree with that being allowed, especially in combat sports as it can be incredibly dangerous," she said.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams said this week: "Everyone competing in the women's category is complying with competition eligibility rules.
"They are women in their passports, and it's stated in there that they are female."