Controversial gender row boxer Imane Kahlif addresses critics at Paris Olympics

Olympic boxer Imane Khelif is calling for an end to bullying of athletes after she became a hot topic due to gender misunderstandings at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The Algerian athlete spoke candidly about her tumultuous Olympic experience on Sunday night, calling the wave of hateful criticism she faced during her participation in the Olympic Games in France “harmful to human dignity.”

“I am sending a message to all the people of the world to respect the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter and to stop bullying athletes, because this has consequences, huge consequences,” Khelif told SNTV in Arabic.

“It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, minds and intellects. It can divide people. And that’s why I ask them to refrain from bullying.”

The victories of Khelif and fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan have become one of the biggest stories of the Paris Games. Both women have won their first Olympic medals while enduring online abuse over unsubstantiated claims about their gender, adding to a wider divide over changing attitudes toward gender identity and regulation in sport.

The 25-year-old came under fire after her 46-second victory over Italy’s Angela Carini

Khelif, 25, acknowledged the pressure and pain of enduring this ordeal while competing in the most important event of her athletics career far from home.

“I’m in touch with my family two days a week. I hope they’re not too affected,” she said. “They’re worried about me. God willing, this crisis will end in a gold medal, and that would be the best response.”

The criticism stems from claims by the International Boxing Federation, which has been permanently banned from the Olympics, that both Khelif and Lin failed an unspecified fitness test for the women’s competition at last year’s world championships.

Khelif would not answer the question of whether tests other than doping tests had been performed on her. She said she did not want to talk about it.

She expressed her gratitude to the International Olympic Committee and its president, Thomas Bach, who resolutely supported her while the banned former governing body of Olympic boxing in Paris created a stir around her participation.

“I know the Olympic Committee has done me justice and I am happy with this solution because it shows the truth,” she said.

She has also received massive support for her fights, with cheers as she entered the arena and the crowd waving Algerian flags and chanting her first name. She will fight again on Tuesday in the semi-finals of the women’s 66-kilogram at Roland Garros.

Khelif failed entrance tests to participate in women’s boxing at the 2023 World Championships

Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting also faced criticism for her participation in the women’s boxing event in Paris

Khelif has repeatedly made it clear that she will not let rumors or accusations deter her from her bid to win Algeria’s first Olympic gold medal in women’s boxing.

“I don’t care about anyone’s opinion,” Khelif said a day after beating Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori. “I came here for a medal, and to fight for a medal. I will definitely fight to improve (and) become better, and God willing, I will improve, just like any other athlete.”

Although she is aware of the global debate about her, Khelif says she has kept her distance somewhat.

“Honestly, I don’t follow social media,” she said. “There is a mental health team that doesn’t allow us to follow social media, especially during the Olympics, whether I or other athletes do. I’m here to compete and get a good result.”

Khelif began her Olympic run last Thursday with a win over Italy’s Angela Carini, who abandoned the race after just 46 seconds. Carini later said she regretted her decision and wanted to apologize to Khelif.

The unusual ending sparked a frenzy of rumors surrounding Khelif, with comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump, “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling and others falsely claiming that Khelif was male or transgender.

The IOC has repeatedly declared her and Lin qualified to compete in the Olympics. It has also criticized the IBA’s unclear testing standards and opaque governance. Last year, the IBA was banned from the Olympics altogether, an unprecedented punishment for an umbrella organization.

Khelif clearly felt the weight of global scrutiny on her, and her victory over Hamori on Saturday seemed cathartic. After the referee raised Khelif’s hand in victory, she went to the center of the ring, waved to her fans, knelt down and slammed her palm on the canvas, her smile turning to tears.

“I couldn’t control my nerves,” Khelif said in the interview. “Because after the media frenzy and after the victory, there was a mix of joy and at the same time I was very touched, because honestly, it was not easy to go through. It was something that harms human dignity.”

She had competed in IBA events for years without incident until she was abruptly suspended from the world championships last year. The Russian-dominated organization – which has been in conflict with the IOC for years – has refused to provide information about the tests.

The Algerian National Boxing Federation is still a member of the IBA.

Khelif comes from rural northwestern Algeria and grew up playing soccer until she fell in love with boxing. Despite her father’s initial objections, she traveled 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) by bus to train for fights in a neighboring town.

After reaching the highest level of the sport in her late teens, she struggled early in her career before reaching an elite level. Khelif has been a solid, if unspectacular, international competitor for six years, losing to eventual gold medalist Kellie Harrington of Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics.

Khelif’s next fight in Paris is against Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand. If Khelif wins again, she will fight for a gold medal on Friday.

“Yes, this issue touches the dignity and honour of every woman and girl,” she told an Algerian broadcaster in a short speech on Sunday after defeating Hamori.

‘The Arab people have known me for years and have seen how I boxed in the IBA, which wronged me and treated me unfairly, but I have God on my side.’