Olympic boxer Imane Khelif decries bullying amid gender misconceptions

Algeria's Olympic boxer Imane Kheilf called for an end to bullying athletes after her participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and unsubstantiated claims about her gender sparked furor, especially among right-wing figures.

“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,” Khelif said in Arabic to SNTV, a sports video partner of The Associated Press.  “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.”

Kheilf became entangled in controversy last week after her fight against Italian boxer Angela Carini, who abandoned the Olympic bout after 46 seconds. She later told reporters she ended the fight due to severe pain in her nose.

Carini refused to shake Khelif’s hand following Wednesday’s match and sank to her knees in tears, prompting conservative pundits, media personalities and lawmakers to spread various conspiracy theories about Kheilf's gender, leading to wider discussions over transgender athletes in competitive sports.

Neither Khelif, nor Lin, 28, who won her fight against Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova on Friday, identify as transgender. Both athletes competed in the women’s category at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo with little to no controversy. 

Kheilf, 25, spoke on the pressure and difficulties of facing criticism while competing far from her home and family, the AP reported.

“I am in contact with my family two days a week. I hope that they weren’t affected deeply,” she said, per the AP. “They are worried about me. God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, and that would be the best response.”

The criticism of Kheilf and another Olympic boxer, Lin Yu-Ting, was initially sparked by claims by the International Boxing Association -- which is permanently banned from the Olympics -- that both Kheilf and Lin failed unspecific eligibility tests at last year’s Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi. 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) last Thursday said all athletes participating in the boxing tournament at this year’s Paris Games comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations.

“As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport,” the organization said. 

Khelif thanked the IOC and its president, Thomas Bach, for backing her against the International Boxing Association's claims.

“I know that the Olympic Committee has done me justice, and I am happy with this remedy because it shows the truth,” she told SNTV.

While she recognizes she has been brought into an international discussion over gender in sports, Khelif reportedly said she has tried to remain somewhat removed from the chatter.

“Honestly, I don’t follow social media,” she said, per The AP. “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.”

Khelif went on to fight and beat Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori in a match Saturday, advancing to the Olympics semifinals. She is expected to fight again Tuesday in the women's 66-kilogram semifinals against Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand. Should Khelif win, she will fight for a gold medal on Friday.

Khelif observed scores of support at her fights, she noted, and her victory over Hamori appeared to bring some relief to the Algerian fighter this week, the AP reported.

“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 greatly affected, because honestly, it wasn’t an easy thing to go through at all. It was something that harms human dignity.”

Carini later apologized last week for her post-fight behavior, noting she was not making a political statement in abandoning the fight and regrets not shaking Khelif’s hand.