Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has denied claims that she is a transgender athlete, asserting that she was born and raised as a woman without any medical procedures.
In a foxnews.com report, she emphasized that the allegations are baseless and should not be taken seriously.
“I am a woman,” Khelif said when asked about the allegations, as quoted by foxnews.com.
Khelif’s match against Italian boxer Angela Carini ended prematurely due to these transgender claims, sparking widespread criticism on social media.
Despite the controversy, Khelif won her 66-kilogram fight against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori by unanimous decision.
Khelif has faced gender eligibility issues before, including a disqualification from the 2023 Women’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association.
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach defended Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting, condemning the hate speech and abuse on social media.
“What is going on in this context on social media with all this hate speech, with this aggression and abuse, and fueled by this agenda, is totally unacceptable,” foxnews.com quoted Bach to have said.
Source: Ghanaweb