{"id":2252,"date":"2025-05-13T15:56:05","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T15:56:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=2252"},"modified":"2025-05-13T15:56:05","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T15:56:05","slug":"olympic-boxer-imane-khelif-shares-truth-behind-gender-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=2252","title":{"rendered":"Olympic boxer Imane Khelif shares truth behind gender rumors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When she steps outside the ring from training, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is taking painful punches from critics about her biological sex, despite her insisting that she\u2019s \u201cfully qualified\u201d to compete in women\u2019s sports.<\/p>\n<p>At the Paris Olympics, controversy erupted during the women\u2019s 66kg quarterfinal match when Algerian boxer Imane Khelif landed a powerful punch that forced Italy\u2019s Angela Carini out of the ring \u2013 just 46 seconds into the fight.<\/p>\n<p>According to reports, just as Khelif was claiming the win, a teary-eyed Carini was heard saying \u201cit\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After the fight, the Italian welterweight told reporters that she had \u201cnever felt a punch like this\u201d and that she quit because \u201cone punch hurt too much.\u201d She also told the BBC that she had to abandon the fight as she \u201cfelt a strong pain to my nose\u201d and \u201chad to preserve my life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The dramatic moment only intensified the backlash, as critics claimed it was \u201cunfair\u201d for the Carini to face a competitor that some insisted was \u201cnot biologically female.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2018This is disgusting\u2019<br \/>\nSocial media exploded with opinions, misinformation, and heated debate \u2013 many demanding clarity and consistency in how gender eligibility is handled in women\u2019s sports.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">This is where Kamala Harris&#8217;s ideas about gender lead: to a grown man pummeling a woman in a boxing match. This is disgusting, and all of our leaders should condemn it.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hUdx7rStzo\">https:\/\/t.co\/hUdx7rStzo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 JD Vance (@JDVance)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JDVance\/status\/1819085100363272282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI WILL KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN\u2019S SPORTS!\u201d Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social before Khelif went on to claim gold in the welterweight division at the Paris Olympics.<\/p>\n<p>JD Vance also offered his thoughts: \u201c\u2026a grown man pummeling a woman in a boxing match. This is disgusting, and all of our leaders should condemn it,\u201d he tweeted alongside a clip that shows Khelif\u2019s brutal blow against Carini.<\/p>\n<p>Refusing to let the unfounded accusations destroy her excitement over the win, the champ \u2013 the first Algerian woman to win gold in boxing \u2013 said \u201cthe best response after all the bullying\u201d was \u201cby winning the gold medal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Target of bullying<br \/>\nRecently speaking with ITV, the now 26-year-old athlete explained that she was shocked by the backlash that she describes as \u201cbullying.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I saw that even heads of state, famous figures, and former athletes were speaking about me without having verified facts, it shocked me,\u201d Khelif said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey were speaking just for the sake of talking, without any reliable or documented information. I also noticed on social media that people were discussing the issue without any trustworthy sources. That was what affected me the most in the beginning \u2013 why was I, Imane Khelif, the target of such a campaign?\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Harms human dignity\u2019<br \/>\nNow, as she prepares for the Los Angeles games in 2028, the boxer said she hopes that people will be more considerate and realize that the scrutiny she faced about her gender \u201charms human dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt affected me mentally, as well as my family. Even my mother was deeply affected \u2013 she was going to the hospital almost every day. My relatives were also impacted, and the entire Algerian people felt the weight of the situation. This went beyond just a sporting issue or a game; it escalated into a major media campaign that could have had a severe negative effect on me, my family, and my psychological well-being,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Calling for an end to bullying athletes after she was impacted by the international backlash against her, Khelif added, \u2018\u2018I was deeply affected mentally and felt discouraged, but I remained aware of what was happening. Even during the Paris Olympics, I had a team of specialist doctors who provided me with support and assistance. Without their support, I might have fallen into a spiral of depression.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I am not transgender\u2019<br \/>\nReferring to the summer Olympics on President Donald Trump\u2019s turf, the woman said, \u201cThe U.S. President issued a decision related to transgender policies in America. I am not transgender. This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Guardian reports the boxer insists that as a biological female, she is \u201cfully qualified\u201d to compete in women\u2019s sports.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman, I lived a woman, I competed as a woman, there\u2019s no doubt about that. [The detractors] are enemies of success, that is what I call them. And that also gives my success a special taste because of these attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What do you think about the accusations against Imane Khelif? Please let us know your thoughts and then share this story so we can hear from others!<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_2252\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"2252\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When she steps outside the ring from training, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is taking painful punches from critics about her biological sex, despite her insisting that she\u2019s \u201cfully qualified\u201d to compete in women\u2019s sports. At the Paris Olympics, controversy erupted during the women\u2019s 66kg quarterfinal match when Algerian boxer Imane Khelif landed a powerful punch&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=2252\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Olympic boxer Imane Khelif shares truth behind gender rumors&rdquo;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_2252\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"2252\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":68,"today_views":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2252"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2252\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2254,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2252\/revisions\/2254"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}