Olympic boxer Imane Khelif has broken her silence with a sobering message to the public, having been the subject of major gender controversy following her victory over Italian fighter Angela Carini last week.
The gender row was sparked after Carini withdrew from her fight just 46 seconds into their clash, saying Khelif’s blows had ‘hurt’ too much.
It emerged that Khelif was previously disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after failing gender eligibility tests.
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At the time, International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev also claimed that the unspecified test reportedly showed Khelif to have the XY chromosome.
Taiwanese boxer Lin Yi-tung was also disqualified in 2023 for failing a gender eligibility test. However, both athletes were deemed eligible to compete in the Paris Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which issued a lengthy statement defending its decision amid ill-informed and incorrect speculation that they were trans.
Khelif, 25, has since spoken out herself after defeating Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori at the weekend, calling on an end to the ‘bullying’ faced by a number of sports stars.
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Speaking in Arabic, she told SNTV last night: “I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects.
“It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”
Khelif said she was concerned about the impact such commentary had on her family, who she has been in contact with ‘two days a week’.
“I hope that they weren’t affected deeply,” she said.
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“They are worried about me. God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, and that would be the best response.”
While Khelif is aware of the online discussion around her performance, she said she doesn’t ‘care about anyone’s opinion’.
She continued: “I came here for a medal, and to compete for a medal. I will certainly be competing to improve (and) be better, and God willing, I will improve, like every other athlete.”
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Khelif added: “Honestly, I don’t follow social media.
“There is a mental health team that doesn’t let us follow social media, especially in the Olympic Games, whether me or other athletes. I’m here to compete and get a good result.”
The boxer shared her gratitude to the IOC and president Thomas Bach for standing beside her throughout the ordeal.
“I know that the Olympic Committee has done me justice, and I am happy with this remedy because it shows the truth,” she said.
Topics: Olympics, Imane Khelif
Jess Hardiman