Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif Wins Gold
TimeAug 17
Olympics: Imane Khelif Files Complaint Over Gender Abuse
Above: Imane Khelif poses for a photo with her gold medal during the Women's 66kg Final medal ceremony in Paris at Roland Garros on Aug. 9, 2024. Image copyright: RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Contributor/Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
The Facts
Imane Khelif of Algeria, the Olympic boxing champion at the center of a gender eligibility controversy, has filed a complaint of "aggravated cyber harassment" against X (formerly Twitter) with the online hate center of the Paris prosecutor's office.
Her lawyer said Saturday that the investigation will focus on "who was behind" and who took part in what he described as a "misogynist, racist and sexist campaign" during the Games. He claimed this campaign included "important political figures."
The Spin
Right narrative
Sadly for women's boxing, the IOC was complicit in allowing genetically male individuals to box against women — and unsurprisingly win all their bouts in unanimous decisions — despite 2024 being promoted as the first-ever gender-equal Olympics. Though Khelif is not trans, the Algerian has all the advantages of being a male in the ring.
Left narrative
Anti-trans activists were quick to attack cisgender female Olympic champion Imane Khelif, paying little attention to the fact that she had competed — and won just a single bout — at Tokyo 2020 without any commotion. Defining a woman is certainly a tricky thing, but it isn't hard to see that non-white athletes continue to suffer the most scrutiny and abuse.