‘Refrain from bullying’ – Imane Khelif issues defiant message on gender row ‘crisis’ as she targets Olympic gold medal
Imane Khelif has hit back defiantly at critics and insisted that bullying of her must end.
Khelif, who has been at the centre of a gender row, has progressed through to the semi-finals of the women's 66kg category after beating Anna Luca Hamori before bursting into tears.
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She has been victim of a torrent of online abuse, as the Algerian hit the spotlight given she failed gender eligibility tests at the World Championships but was cleared to compete in the Paris Olympics by the International Olympic Committee [IOC].
Her campaign is set to continue this week, and she has since spoken out in an emotional first interview explaining how the controversy has affected her.
She said on 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.
"It can destroy people, it can kill people's thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people.
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"And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying. I am in contact with my family two days a week. I hope that they weren't affected deeply.
"They are worried about me. God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, and that would be the best response.
"I know that the Olympic Committee has done me justice, and I am happy with this remedy because it shows the truth."
Khelif is one of two boxers alongside Taiwanese star Lin Tu-Ying, who were cleared by the IOC, given the organisation adopt different rules to the International Boxing Association, who disqualified them from previous competition.
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The controversy began when her opening rival Angela Carini quit after 46 seconds being punched just twice, after sustaining facial damage and calling for what she believed was an 'injustice' to end.
It quickly received huge backlash on social media and around the world, as Carini insisted it was the hardest she had been hit in her career.
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The Italian later apologised for her actions towards Khelif following the fight, and insisted she would now shake her hand after reflecting on the opening encounter.
In the next round, Khelif's opponent Hamori stayed the distance of the fight but was unable to win the fight on decision, and she is now one-fight away from a guaranteed bronze medal.
Despite the controversy, the IOC has defended their stance on the boxers including Khelif, and no changes will be made during the tournament.
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And IOC spokesperson Mark Adams has insisted the hateful narrative has been fuelled by misinformation surrounding the fighters' situation.
"We feel these women have been targeted, particularly on social media, they've been subject to death threats, we feel strongly about that to remind people this is absolutely not a transgender issue," he said.
"These women were born as girls, they were registered as female, they have female passports, they have competed for the past six or seven years in senior competitions, they've won bouts and lost bouts as women.
"For us it's important we give them support, particularly at the moment, if anybody would put themselves in the position of those two athletes who are being ridiculed and attacked with death threats, simply because of a test which came from a discredited federation which wanted to change the results of a bout, this is not acceptable.
"This is why we get angry. Of course we want fair bouts, but we also want people to have the right to compete fairly and without harassment."
The IOC has now taken control of boxing since last year after stripping the IBA, who conducted the tests, of their rights to host the competition.
It is unclear if the sport will remain in place for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with doubts over its future very much circling.
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