Algerian boxer Imane Khelif found herself at the center of a worldwide controversy at the Olympics in Paris. The 25-year-old pugilist had her eligibility to compete in women's boxing questioned, but the International Olympic Committee stood firm in its decision to allow her to compete. Now, after keeping a low profile, Khelif is speaking out about what she's experienced.
Khelif opened up about the backlash she's faced in an interview with SNTV.
" 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," she 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."
"I don’t care about anyone’s opinion," she continued. "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."
It all started when Italian boxer Angela Carini quit her match against Khelif after 46 seconds last week. Khelif, along with Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting, had been disqualified from the International Boxing Association's World Championship last year after the organization claimed the two pugilists failed to meet gender eligibility requirements, though no test results have been released. Despite this, both Khelif and Lin have competed at the Olympics before, as well as other boxing events, in the women's categories.
"There has been some confusion that somehow it's a man fighting a woman. This is just not the case," IOC spokesperson Mark Smith told The New York Times . "[Khelif] has competed for a very, very long time in women’s sport against many opponents... So, I think if you start working on all suspicions, then we end up very much heading towards a gender-testing regime, which is not good for anybody."
"The question you have to ask yourself is, are these athletes women? The answer is yes, according to their eligibility, their passport, their history," he added. "The Algerian boxer was born female, was registered female, lived her life as a female, boxed as a female, has a female passport. This is not a transgender case."
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As for the IOC's role in the kerfuffle, Khelif is just happy to have the full support of the Olympic governing body.
“I know that the Olympic Committee has done me justice, and I am happy with this remedy because it shows the truth," Khelif said.
Now, she's focused on bringing home the gold. "I am in contact with my family two days a week. I hope that they weren’t affected deeply," she said. "They are worried about me. God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, and that would be the best response."
Khelif will face off against Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand in the semifinal match on Aug. 6.
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