BOXER Imane Khelif responded to her detractors in an angry interview after qualifying for the women’s under-66 kg semi-finals.
Khelif’s participation in the Games comes 18 months after she was disqualified from the Women’s World Championships due to an alleged gender test failure in March 2023.
According to the Russian-backed International Boxing Association, the 25-year-old tested positive for male XY chromosomes and elevated testosterone levels.
Several false stories, especially on social media, claimed Khelif, who was born and reared as a female, was biologically male.
Khelif, who faced criticism for forcing Italy’s Angela Carini to withdraw in their first round, has responded with a defiant statement.
“I send a message to all people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter and refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has massive consequences,” she stated.
“It has the ability to destroy people and annihilate their thoughts, spirits, and minds. It has the potential to cause division among individuals.
“And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”
Khelif’s loved ones were concerned for her mental health after witnessing the huge amount of hatred she experienced online.
IOC and Paris 2024 Boxing Unit Statement in Full
Take a look at the complete statement released by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit.
Everyone has the right to participate in sports without prejudice.
All athletes competing in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 boxing tournament follow the competition’s eligibility and entry rules, as well as all applicable medical criteria established by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU). The passport serves as a determining factor for participants’ gender and age, just like in previous Olympic boxing competitions.
These rules also applied during the qualification period, including the boxing tournaments of the 2023 European Games, Asian Games, Pan American Games, and Pacific Games, the ad hoc 2023 African qualifying tournament in Dakar (SEN), and two world qualifying tournaments held in Busto Arsizio (ITA) and Bangkok (THA) in 2024, which involved a total of 1,471 different boxers from 172 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the Boxing Refugee Team and Individual Neutral Athletes.
The PBU based its Paris 2024 regulations on the Tokyo 2020 boxing rules. The goal was to minimize the burden on competitors’ preparations and provide uniformity between Olympic Games. These Tokyo 2020 rules were based on the post-Rio 2016 rules that were in existence prior to the IOC suspending the boxing International Federation in 2019 and then withdrawing its recognition in 2023.
We have observed inaccurate information in headlines regarding two female athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. For many years, the two athletes have competed in international boxing competitions for women, including the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships, and IBA-sanctioned tournaments.
The IBA made a quick and unjustified judgment that affected these two sportsmen. They were unexpectedly disqualified toward the end of the 2023 IBA World Championships.
The IBA Secretary General and CEO were solely responsible for the initial decision, according to IBA minutes posted on their website. The IBA Board only ratified it later and then demanded that a procedure for similar occurrences in the future be devised and included in the IBA Regulations. According to the minutes, the IBA should “establish a clear procedure on gender testing”.
The present aggression against these two athletes is solely based on this arbitrary decision, which was made without due procedure, especially given that these athletes had been competing at the highest level for many years.
This attitude is opposed to effective governance.
While the competition is still going on, eligibility rules shouldn’t change, and any changes must follow established procedures and have solid scientific backing.
The IOC is committed to preserving the human rights of all Olympic athletes in accordance with the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics, and the IOC Strategic Framework on Human Rights. The abuse the two athletes are currently going through saddens the IOC.
The IOC withdrew the IBA’s recognition in 2023, following its suspension in 2019. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed the removal of recognition. See the IOC’s statement after the decision.
The International Olympic Committee has said unequivocally that in order for boxing to be featured in the Olympic Games LA28 sports program, National Boxing Federations must establish an agreement on a new International Federation.
She stated, “I communicate with my family two days a week. I hope they weren’t too affected.
“They’re worried about me. God willing, this crisis will result in a gold medal, which would be the best reaction.”
Khelif, on the other hand, has been able to filter out the hubbub surrounding her participation at the Games.
She stated, “Honestly, I don’t use social media.
“The mental health team prohibits athletes from using social media during the Olympic Games.”
“I’m here to compete and get a good result.”
Khelif cried after reaching the semi-finals with a points triumph over Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori last weekend. She proudly stated, “I am a woman.”
Reflecting on her emotional outburst, Khelif admitted, “I couldn’t control my nerves.
“Because after the media frenzy and win, there was a mix of excitement and sadness, and I was deeply affected.
“Because, honestly, it was not an easy experience. It was something that degraded human decency.”
Khelif will return to competition on Tuesday and might compete for gold on Friday if she defeats Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng.
“I came here for a medal and to compete for a medal,” she informed the audience. “I will undoubtedly compete to improve [and] be better, and God willing, I shall improve alongside every other athlete.