Imane Khelif is celebrating her Olympic gold medal victory in the women’s boxing 66-kilogram division while also facing intense scrutiny during the Paris Olympics. The 25-year-old Algerian boxer has been embroiled in a controversy over gender eligibility in women’s sports, with unfounded claims circulating that she is a man. The spotlight intensified after her first Olympic bout when her opponent, Italian boxer Angela Carini, quit just 46 seconds into the fight.
Angela Carini apologizes to Imane Khelif, says she regrets not shaking her hand and that she wants to embrace her the next time they meet.
“It wasn’t something I intended to do. Actually, I want to apologize to her and everyone else. All this controversy makes me sad.” ❤️ pic.twitter.com/dsm7HgwZxZ
— Women Posting W’s (@womenpostingws) August 4, 2024
Angela later apologized for her actions, which included not shaking Imane’s hand and tearfully explaining that she quit due to “severe pain” from Imane’s punches, according to the Associated Press. She expressed regret for not showing sportsmanship and acknowledged that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had deemed Imane eligible to compete. “I’m sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision,” Angela told the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. She admitted that her anger stemmed from her disappointment at losing her chance in the Olympics.
Lin Yu-Ting (Taiwan) and Imane Khelif (Algeria) both won gold at the Olympics in their respective weight classes despite all of the hate and animosity towards them. These two amazing amazing women…they aren’t just boxers….they are Fighters. pic.twitter.com/u8uQdgD6eH
— Yuh-Line Niou (@yuhline) August 10, 2024
Despite the IOC’s support, false rumors about Imane’s gender spread rapidly online, fueled by high-profile figures. Some critics referenced the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) previous disqualification of Imane from the 2023 championships due to an unspecified gender ineligibility test. However, the IOC has maintained that Imane is fully qualified to compete.
Imane has since taken legal action against the online harassment she has endured. In a statement shared by her attorney, Nabil Boudi, on X (formerly Twitter), the hate campaign against Imane was described as “misogynistic, racist, and sexist,” as reported by USA Today. Boudi condemned the harassment, calling it “the biggest stain of these Olympic Games.”
Imane Khelif wins her semifinals match and advances to the Olympic finals with a message for everyone: “Refrain from bullying” ❤️
“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,… pic.twitter.com/IA5Yq8QqEi
— Women Posting W’s (@womenpostingws) August 6, 2024
Imane herself has spoken out about the damaging effects of bullying. In an interview with SNTV, she emphasized that bullying “can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit, and mind. It can divide people.” She urged others to refrain from such behavior and labeled the spread of false information and hateful commentary as “immoral,” according to Reuters. Imane expressed her desire to change people’s perceptions around the world.
The legal complaint, filed on August 9 with a special unit in the Paris prosecutor’s office that handles online hate speech and harassment, does not name specific perpetrators. Prosecutors will decide whether to launch an investigation. Imane’s lawyer, speaking to the French newspaper Le Monde, highlighted that some of those involved in the online harassment were influential political figures, whose posts reached over 100 million views. He described these individuals as “malicious” and underscored the severity of the situation.
