New Delhi: Amid the ongoing row over Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s gender, Indian sprinter Dutee Chand has recalled the troubles she faced when doubts were raised about her own gender despite a court backing her a decade ago.
“What happened to me in 2014 is exactly what happened to Imane Khelif. Everyone leaves the player alone in such situations. I know how it feels at this time, so I want to raise my voice for her,” Chand told ThePrint over the phone.
The controversy arose in the aftermath of a welterweight match at the Paris Olympics Thursday. Italian pugilist Angela Carini abandoned her bout against Khelif just 46 seconds in, saying that a punch from the Algerian boxer “hurt too much” for her to continue.
This has led to a massive uproar, with Khelif — who was disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after failing a gender eligibility test — facing allegations that she has genetically male characteristics or is transgender, despite no evidence.
Expressing support for Khelif, Chand said there were numerous tests and clearances a player must go through before entering the Olympics.
“In 2014, I challenged the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) 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….When you compete in the Olympics, you undergo several tests. I don’t think it is right to create controversy on social media,” Chand said.
The case led to the IAAF’s policy on hyperandrogenism (high levels of testosterone in women) being suspended in 2015, allowing Chand — who had been dropped from the Indian contingent in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games over this — to take part in subsequent competitions, including the Rio and Tokyo Olympics.
Chand added: “When other people raise questions, no one supports the athlete. They face everything alone. Now, if she goes out to eat, people will see her with these allegations. At least the sports federation and government should come forward to support their player.”
“It becomes very difficult to face the world with such allegations. And these allegations are raised when we win but not when we lose.”
Chand, who holds the national record in the 100m and won silver in the 2018 Asian Games, was banned for four years by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after samples taken in December 2022 were found to contain banned substances.
She won two gold medals at the 2014 Asian Junior Athletics Championships and a bronze in the 60-metre dash at the Asian Indoor Championships in 2016, setting a national record time of 7.28 seconds. She made the front pages of national dailies when she was the only athlete to bring home a gold in the 2019 Summer Universiade. The previous year, she won two silver medals in the Asian Games. Her 200-metre dash at the 2018 Asian Games marked India’s first medal in the event since P.T. Usha’s gold in 1986.
(Edited by Roha Manoj)
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