Imane Khelif’s father insists criticism of his daughter’s presence in the Olympic boxing event has been ‘immoral’.

Khelif’s participation has caused widespread debate. The 25-year-old boxer has higher testosterone levels than the average woman, prompting her to be banned from last year’s World Championship.

Italian opponent Angela Carini withdrew from their first-round fight after only 46 seconds, claiming she had never been punched so hard in her career.

But Amar Khelife has now told critics: “The attacks against her are immoral, it is not fair.

“Imane is a little girl that has loved sport since she was six-years-old, she used to play football.

“These critics and rumours aim to destabilise Imane, they don’t want her to be the champion of the world.

“I tell her prove them wrong in the ring and I hope that she will honour Algeria and Arabic countries and win the gold medal.

“She is our role model, and we want to be like her and honour Algeria and Tiaret.”

Khelif has lost nine times during her career. A claim by the IBA president Umar Kremlev that Khelif’s sex test last year showed XY chromosomes – which are mostly only found in men – has not been proven.