Khelif calls for an end to bullying following gender dispute in Olympic women’s boxing

Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif has spoken out against false accusations of her gender following her first fight at the Paris Olympics. The Italian boxer she faced withdrew just 46 seconds into the match, sparking international backlash and questioning her eligibility. Khelif, in an interview in Arabic, urged people worldwide to uphold Olympic principles and denounced bullying of athletes, emphasizing the harmful impact it can have. She expressed gratitude for the support she received and shared her motivation to win Algeria’s first Olympic gold medal in women’s boxing despite the challenges she faced. Khelif’s coach also defended her, stating that gender reassignment is not allowed in Algeria. Following her victory against Hungary’s Anna Hamori, Khelif is set to face Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand in the semi-finals, with the potential to win a gold medal on Friday. The boxer thanked the International Olympic Committee for their support and appreciated those who stood by her during the controversy. Italian boxer Angela Carini has since apologized to Khelif for the gender controversy. Khelif remains focused on her goal and is determined to overcome the obstacles in her path to Olympic success.

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