Imane Khelif spoke out after her controversial 46-second fight with Angela Carini, issuing a warning to her critics about their comments.
The Olympic boxer Imane Khelif causes debate over a 46-second fight
Imane Khelif has recently been in the spotlight due to a highly controversial fight against Angela Carini.
The match lasted only 46 seconds, but it has sparked a fierce debate about gender in sports.
Many people criticized Khelif as she still be allowed to compete at the Paris Olympics despite failing the gender eligibility test.
Lately, Khelif addressed her critics and shared her thoughts on the situation.
In her first sit-down interview since the incident, Khelif slammed the scrutiny over her gender as “harmful to human dignity.”
The 25-year-old athlete defiantly defended her right to compete.
Khelif spoke openly about the backlash she has faced.
She stated that she was surprised by the negative reactions, but she remained strong in her belief that she fought fairly.
Khelif emphasized that she trained hard for this moment and deserved to win.
She explained that every athlete aims for success, and her quick victory was a result of her dedication and hard work.
“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,” Khelif said.
“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,” Khelif emphasized.
Khelif insists she has done nothing wrong and is simply adhering to the IOC’s guidelines on transgender participation.
She maintains that her gender identity is not up for debate.
“I am an athlete, I am a human being, and I have rights just like everyone else,” Khelif declared.
“My participation in this Olympics is legitimate according to the rules and regulations.
I am not going to allow anyone to strip me of my identity or my rights,” Khelif fiercely stated.
“I know there are people who disagree with my participation, but I won’t let that stop me,” she said.
“I’m here to compete, to represent my country, and to show the world what I’m capable of.
If they have a problem with that, that’s their issue, not mine.”
“I’m not here to make friends or win popularity contests,” Khelif said.
The controversial fight is even being commented on by famous individuals
The controversial fight has attracted comments from high-profile figures like former US President Donald Trump and “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling.
Some have falsely claimed that Khelif is a man or transgender.
However, the IOC has confirmed her eligibility during the controversy.
The IOC criticized the IBA for their ‘unconvinced’ ban on Khelif
Moreover, the IOC has criticized the unclear testing standards used by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which was banned from the Olympics last year.
Khelif has competed in IBA events for years without incident but was suddenly suspended from last year’s world championships.
The IBA has not provided any information about the tests that led to Khelif’s suspension.
Imane Khelif is predicted to be a champion this Friday
Khelif is set to face Janjaem Suwannapheng from Thailand in her upcoming match in Paris.
A victory in this bout will allow her to compete for a gold medal on Friday.
‘The Arab population has known me for years and has seen me box in the IBA that wronged me (and) treated me unfairly.
But I have God on my side,’ Khelif said.