Algeria’s welterweight boxer, Imane Khelif, speaks out about the bullying and inaccurate information about her sex at the Paris Olympics.
Khelif have faced abuse and inaccurate online speculation about their sexes, despite the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stating they meet all criteria and are women, according to USA Today.
Khelif shared the following in an interview with SNTV: “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,” she said. “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,” Kheliff added.
The IOC president, Thomas Bach, defended Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu Ting (who also faced the same criticism about her gender), considering them cisgender.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified Khelif and Lin from the 2023 World Championship after they failed gender eligibility tests, according to USA Today. The report also states that the IOC has raised concerns about the validity of the gender tests.
Khelif will compete tomorrow in the semifinals against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng on August 6th, after defeating Luca Anna Hamori of Hungary on August 3rd in the quarterfinals.