Imane Khelif's home country Algeria condemns "baseless propaganda" surrounding Paris Olympics participation amid backlash over gender eligibility
Imane Khelif is an Algerian boxer embroiled in controversy over the past few days. The 25-year-old is in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games, where she is one of two athletes who have been cleared to compete in women's boxing despite being disqualified from the Women's World Boxing Championships last year in New Delhi after failing to meet eligibility criteria.
Khelif was stripped of the chance to fight for gold by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after reportedly failing a gender eligibility test. Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting was also stripped of a bronze medal for the same reason. However, both were cleared to compete at the Paris Olympics.
Ahead of Khelif's welterweight bout against Italy's Angela Carini, several combat sports personalities have voiced their dismay at her fighting in the women's category.
In response to the boiling controversy surrounding Khelif, Algeria's Olympic Committee (COA) recently issued a statement defending their boxing star. The statement dismissed the current narratives around her sex and gender as "baseless propaganda" and read:
"COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets. Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics. The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion." [H/t: Reuters]
Despite the public condemnation on social media, Khelif has found significant support from her compatriots. Many have taken to X to reiterate that she's a victim of a misinformation campaign.
Nina-Marie Daniele reacts to footage of Imane Khelif fighting Brianda Tamara in 2022
Over the past few days, footage of Imane Khelif's bout against Mexican boxer Brianda Tamara in 2022 has gone viral on social media, with many pointing out the Algerian's physical advantages over other women.
Popular UFC influencer Nina-Marie Daniele recently reacted to a clip of the same and slammed the Olympic committee for allowing Khelif to fight a woman. In an X post, she wrote:
"This absolutely DISGUSTING! Shame on the Olympic committee for allowing this! Imagine being a father and watching your daughter get beat up by a biological man. This is diabolical."