Imane Khelif calls for end to bullying athletes amid Olympic gender controversy

Olympic boxer Imane Khelif is calling for an end to bullying athletes after the scrutiny she faced about her gender. She spoke about her experience at the Paris Olympics in an interview with SNTV on Sunday 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,” Khelif said in Arabic, per 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.”

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

Following Khelif’s victory over Italy’s Angela Carini during the Olympics, rumors began to spread online about her gender. During the 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championships, the Algerian boxer was disqualified after failing unspecified gender eligibility tests. The claims were made by the International Boxing Association, which has been permanently banned from the Olympics. The 25-year-old did not respond when asked whether she had undergone tests other than for doping. However, Khelif expressed gratitude to the International Olympic Committee for its support.

Imane Khelif will earn an Olympic medal

“I know that the Olympic Committee has done me justice, and I am happy with this remedy because it shows the truth,” she said. Khelif began her Olympic run last Thursday with the win over Carini, who exited the fight after 46 seconds. Carini later apologized to Khelif for abandoning the fight.

The unusual ending led the chatter surrounding Khelif, drawing comments from former President Donald Trump and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling falsely claiming Khelif is a man or transgender.

“I don’t care about anyone’s opinion,” Khelif said a day after she beat Luca Anna Hamori of Hungary in the quarterfinals on Saturday. “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.”

Khelif is guaranteed a medal after her victory on Saturday. She will be the first boxer from Algeria to win a medal since Mohamed Allalou in 2000. Khelif’s next match will be on Thursday when she faces Thailand’s Janjaem Sunwannapheng.