Imane Khelif’s dad speaks out After olympic boxer’s gender controversy
Imane Khelif, a boxer from Algeria, found herself in a tough spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics when her opponent, Angela Carini from Italy, walked out of their fight.
Despite being born a female and identifying as a woman, Khelif’s participation has stirred up debate.
On August 1, during the match, Carini suddenly left the ring, saying she had “severe pain” in her nose. Because of this, Khelif was declared the winner. However, some people argue that Khelif should not be allowed to compete against other women because she was disqualified from the 2023 world championships due to high testosterone levels.
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Khelif’s father, Amar Khelif, spoke up to support his 25-year-old daughter. He told Reuters, “Having such a daughter is an honor because she is a champion. She honored me, and I encourage her. I hope she will get the medal in Paris. Imane is a little girl that has loved sport since she was 6 years old.”
To clear up doubts about her gender, Amar Khelif showed an official document from May 2, 1999, confirming that Imane Khelif is female.
Carini apologized to Khelif on August 2, saying to the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, “I’m sorry for my opponent. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision. It wasn’t something I intended to do. Actually, I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke.”
Khelif also spoke out, asking people to stop bullying athletes. She told SNTV, “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.”
Despite the controversy, Khelif is determined to succeed in the Olympics. Her father’s support and her call for kindness show the importance of respect and understanding in sports. Khelif hopes to make her family and country proud by overcoming these challenges and continuing her journey as a champion.
