Olympic boxer Imane Khelif says the wave of hateful scrutiny she’s faced over her gender misunderstanding “destroys human dignity,” and she’s called for an end to bullying athletes after being deeply affected by the international backlash against her.
The Algerian athlete spoke about her harrowing Olympic experience Sunday in an interview with SNTV, The Associated Press’ sports video partner.
“I send a message to everyone in the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has an effect, a massive effect,” Khelif said in Arabic. “It can destroy people, it can kill people’s minds, spirits and thoughts. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask you to stop bullying.”
John Locher / AP
The victory of Khelif and fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan in the ring in Paris has become one of the biggest stories about Paris Games. Both women have clinched the first Olympic medal even though they have faced online abuse based on unsubstantiated claims about gender, drawing them to divide more through changing their attitudes towards gender identity and regulations in sports.
Khelif, 25, admits to the pressure and pain of dealing with this hardship while competing away from home in the most important event of his athletic career.
“I am in contact with the family two days a week. I hope they are not affected too much,” he said. “They are worried about me. God willing, this crisis will be a gold medal, and this will be the best response.”
The vitriol stems from claims by the International Boxing Association, which has been permanently banned from the Olympics, that Khelif and Lin failed unspecified eligibility tests for the women’s competition at last year’s world championships.
Khelif refused to answer when asked if he had undergone any tests other than the doping test, saying he did not want to talk about it.
He thanked the International Olympic Committee and its president, Thomas Bach, for standing firmly behind him when the banned former Olympic boxing leader made a fuss about his participation in Paris.
“The Olympic Committee has done me justice”
“I know that the Olympic Committee has done justice, and I like this drug because it shows the truth,” he said.
He has also seen great support in his fight, drawing attention as he enters the arena and crowds waving Algerian flags chanting his name. They will fight again Tuesday in the women’s 66-kilogram semifinals at Roland Garros.
Khelif has repeatedly made it clear that she will not allow talk or accusations to stop her from trying to win Algeria’s first Olympic gold medal in women’s boxing.
“I don’t care about anyone’s opinion,” Khelif said a day after defeating Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori. “I came here for a medal, and to compete for a medal. I will always compete to improve (and) become better, and God willing, I will improve, like every other athlete.”
Although he is aware of the worldwide discussion about him, Khelif says he has been removed.
“Honestly, I don’t follow social media,” he said. “There is a mental health team that doesn’t allow us to follow social media, especially at the Olympics, whether it’s me or other athletes. I’m here to compete and get good results.”
Khelif began her Olympic run last Thursday with a victory over Italy’s Angela Carini, who left the match after just 46 seconds. Carini then said that she regretted her decision and apologized to Khelif.
The unusual ending sent the conversation around Khelif into a frenzy, prompting comments from former US President Donald Trump, “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling and others who mistakenly claimed that Khelif was a man or transgender.
The IOC has repeatedly declared he and Lin qualified to compete in the Olympics, and has denounced the poor testing standards and non-transparent governance of the IBA, which kicked them out of the Olympics last year in an unprecedented penalty for a governing body.
“Something that destroys human dignity”
Khelif is clearly feeling the weight of worldwide scrutiny, and his victory over Hamori on Saturday was cathartic. After the referee raised Khelif’s hand in victory, he went to the center of the ring, waved to his fans, knelt down and slammed his palms on the canvas, his smile turning to tears.
“I couldn’t control my nerves,” Khelif said in the interview. “Because after the media frenzy and after the victory, there was a mixture of happiness and at the same time I was very affected, because to be honest, it’s not something that is easy to pass. glory.”
He has been participating in IBA events for several years without any problems until he was suddenly suspended from the world championship last year. The Russian-dominated body – which has faced conflict with the IOC for years – has refused to release any information about the tests.
The Algerian national boxing federation is still a member of the IBA.
Khelif is from rural northwest Algeria, and he grew up playing soccer until he fell in love with boxing. Overcoming his father’s initial objection, he traveled 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) by bus to practice fighting in a neighboring town.
After reaching the highest level of the sport in his late teens, he struggled early in his career before reaching the elite level. Khelif has been a solid, if unspectacular, international competitor for six years, and she lost to gold medalist Kellie Harrington of Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics.
Khelif’s next match in Paris is against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng. If Khelif wins again, he will fight for the gold medal there.
“Yes, this issue involves the dignity and honor of every woman and woman,” he told Algerian broadcasters in brief comments Sunday after defeating Hamori. “The Arab people have known me for many years and have seen me box in the IBA who mistreated me (and) treated me unfairly, but I have God on my side.”
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