A boxer who previously defeated Imane Khelif, Amy Broadhurst has issued a new statement after facing ‘online hate
Amy Broadhurst, an Irish boxer who competed for Team GB at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has issued a new statement.
This comes in response to the online backlash she received following her comments on the Imane Khelif controversy. Broadhurst’s remarks have sparked significant discussion and criticism.
The fight amid the gender controversy
Imane Khelif, who represents Algeria, recently faced off against Italian boxer Angela Carini in the women’s 66kg division.
The match ended abruptly, with Carini withdrawing just 46 seconds in, citing severe pain.
The fight reignited controversy due to Imane Khelif’s past disqualification from the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Khelif was banned for failing a gender eligibility test. The IBA attributed the disqualification to elevated testosterone levels.
Khelif attended Paris 2024 despite the gender controversy.
Despite this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cleared Khelif to compete in the Paris Olympics. She met their criteria and her passport identifies her as female.
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who also faced a similar ban by the IBA, was permitted to compete. The IBA, facing governance and financial issues, was stripped of its recognition by the IOC. This decision was made in 2023.
Amy Broadhurst defended Imane Khelif amid the gender controversy
Following Khelif’s fight, Amy Broadhurst, who had previously defeated Khelif at the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, took to X. She used the platform to express her views on the situation.
She stated, “I don’t think she has done anything to ‘cheat’. I think it’s the way she was born and that’s out of her control. The fact that she has been beaten by nine females before says it all.”
Broadhurst, who has faced Khelif in the ring and defeated her, highlighted that Khelif’s career includes only nine losses out of fifty fights, demonstrating her competitive nature and skill.
Online backlash regarding Broadhurst’s response
Broadhurst’s comments attracted significant online backlash, prompting her to address the issue again on August 2.
She urged her followers to stop the bullying and wait for factual information before passing judgment.
In her Instagram post, Broadhurst wrote, “This is the last I’m going to speak on this situation because it’s a crazy situation. I do not agree with male vs female [matches]. I never will because it’s wrong. But the abuse this person has received in the last 24 hours without any real facts or proof is so wrong! Please keep in mind if your child was going through something like this, what would you do?”
She further criticized the lack of transparency from the IBA, saying, “IBA released the statement that two boxers failed a gender test over a year ago.
That’s all well and good but where are the results? They haven’t been published yet so people are just believing what’s been said.”
Public reaction
Broadhurst’s plea received mixed reactions.
One person said: She was born a female. The other lady can’t take defeat
A second wrote: Damage control by the Olympics,he ain’t a girl he is a fellow.
While a third commented: He should not be allowed to compete, if it walks like a man talk like a man it’s a bloody man. Sad day for sport when you can legally go into a ring and beat a woman up.
Another added: she is a biological female who because of one DNA test by the IBA that they refused to elaborate on because the “specifics of the testing are confidential,” is being persecuted.