Olympics Committee Issues Statement Against Online Harassment of Algerian Boxer

The Olympic Games committee has finally issued a statement against the online harassment of Algerian women boxer, Imane Khelif, amid accusations about her sexuality.

In a joint statement with the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit, the Olympic committee reiterated that "every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination."

The post did not specifically mention the boxer's name but noted that they were victims of "misleading information."

The committee stated that the PBU continues to use the Tokyo 2020 boxing rules as baseline, where Khelif also previously participated in the women's boxing division.

What's the Issue with Imane Khelif?

Targeted harassment on Khelif started after her match against Italy's Angela Carini, who walked away from their bout after receiving opening punches from the Algerian.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who visited Carini after her match, later decried the Olympic Committee's decision to supposedly allow "genetically male" athletes to compete against women.

Meloni cited Khelif's disqualification from the 2022 International Boxing Association World Championships for failing an unspecified requirement test. The IBA has been banned from the Olympics since 2019.

The IBA, however, clarified that the tests were not a "testosterone examination" as rumored online.

The Algerian Olympic Committee has already disputed the accusations, condemning them as "unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete" with "baseless propaganda."

Khelif's passport, which was seen by the Associated Press, states that she is female by birth. Her family also shared the Algerian boxer's picture when she was younger to dispel the rumors.

Olympics Athletes Face Online Harassment, False Accusations

Khelif is not the only female athlete in this year's Summer Olympics currently facing discrimination about false rumors hurled against their sexuality.

Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, who is also competing in the female boxing competition, is also being accused of having male chromosomes after failing the same IBA test as Khelif in 2023.

Experts have long denounced basing on people's chromosomes and hormones for qualifying athletes as it can invite discrimination.