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Khelif\u2019s previous bout lasted just 46 seconds as Italian Angela Carini withdrew<\/a>,<\/a> saying afterwards that she was “protecting her life”.<\/p>\n That fight sparked widespread debate. <\/p>\n Khelif and the other boxer involved in the eligibility controversy, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, have been strongly backed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) who run the boxing competitions at the Games.<\/p>\n IOC president Thomas Bach said earlier on Saturday there was “never any doubt” the pair are women.<\/p>\n Khelif reached the final of last year\u2019s World Championships before being disqualified by the IBA – a Russia-led organisation suspended by the IOC in 2019 because of concerns over its finances, governance, ethics, refereeing and judging.<\/p>\n The IBA said Khelif “failed to meet the eligibility criteria for participating in the women’s competition, as set and laid out” in its regulations.<\/p>\n According to the IBA’s regulations: “Boxers will compete against boxers of the same gender, meaning women v women and men v men as per the definitions of these rules.<\/p>\n The IBA defines a woman, female or girl as “an individual with chromosome XX” and men, males or boys as “an individual with chromosome XY”.<\/p>\n The IOC, which defines gender differently, said the pair were “suddenly disqualified without any due process”.<\/p>\n Khelif will meet Janjaem Suwannapheng, who beat favourite Busenaz Surmeneli – the 2021 Olympic champion from Turkey – in the semi-final on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Even if she loses she will leave the Paris Games with a bronze medal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n