“She doesn’t have the muscles of a girl.” Elena Babicheva remembers her fight with Iman Khelif

Muscles Iman Khelif similar to that of men, Russian Elena Babicheva, silver medalist of the 2024 European Boxing Championship, told , sharing her memories of the fight with the Algerian.

At the 2024 Games in Paris, Algerian Khelif won gold in the women’s boxing competition. In the fall, Le Correspondent published a medical report according to which the athlete was diagnosed with the absence of a uterus and ovaries, as well as the presence of testicles in the inguinal canal and a “micropenis”. Meanwhile, the International Boxing Association (IBA) suspended Khelif from the 2023 world championship due to failing a gender test. Following a gender test, it was proven that she has XY chromosomes.

— I boxed with this athlete. Although I don’t know anymore – with an athlete or an athlete. We boxed with her in Serbia, then I lost to her 2:3. Then I boxed the first year at the adult level. When I saw this man, I thought he was someone’s coach. And when we met her at the weigh-in, and it turned out we were in the same weight class, I was like, “How is that possible?” She doesn’t have muscles like girls. We pumped up the girls, but we don’t have such prominent muscles. Even then, I thought something was wrong. Then Azalia Amineva went to the World Championships when she boxed with her. And everything fell apart. Of course it’s unpleasant. When you work, you train, then go out… And that’s it. Anyway, a man is stronger than a woman. I think (Khelif’s speech) is unfair. It’s great that this has come to light and been proven. We hope this will not happen again,” Babicheva told .

Babicheva reached the final of the Russian Championship in Serpukhov in the weight category up to 63 kg. This tournament is broadcast live on the Match! Fighter”. The final will take place on Saturday, November 9, the broadcast begins at 4:55 p.m. Moscow time.

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