Imane Khelif Speaks Out on ‘Transvestigation’

Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif spoke out about the far-right’s “transvestigation” of her. “You hate me, but you don’t even know me. I don’t even know why you led this attack. You have been cruel to me, cruel to my family, to my mother,” she says with tears in her eyes during an interview with the French TV station CLIQUE.

 

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Following the defeat of her opponent, Italian boxer Angela Carini, in the first round, Khelif became the target of right-wing hate. After the fight, Carini claimed she had “never been hit so hard in her life,” prompting a wave of accusations that Khelif was either a trans woman or a cis man. Algeria does not allow individuals to transition medically, and Khelif’s family have said she was assigned female at birth. Khelif was also confirmed as cis by The International Olympics Committee. Despite evidence to the contrary, and little scientific backing, transphobia trifecta Elon Musk, Jk Rowling, and former swimmer Riley Gaines have propelled the Y chromosome theory into mainstream view. Gaines Twitter feed has been alight with accusations based on a report by the International Boxing Authority. The IBA claimed to have evidence that Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting had XY chromosomes giving them an advantage, although this evidence has not been publicized. “This decision, made after a meticulous review, was extremely important and necessary to uphold the level of fairness and utmost integrity of the competition,” reads the IBA press release. Khelif was disqualified from the International Boxing Authority’s tournament after beating previously undefeated Russian boxer Azalia Amineva. The IBA President, Umar Kremlev, is an associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has openly made homophobic comments. The IBA was banned from running the Olympic’s after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and instances of corruption, according to the Associated Press. Despite evidence that trans women do not have a biological advantage in sports, and attestation from Khelif’s family and the International Olympic Comitee of her eligibility, Gaines has repeatedly accused her of having a Y chromosome. Khelif has gone on to file a cyberbullying complaint against X, naming Musk and Rowling among others. “I don’t understand the behavior of people today. God is my guide. I am a practicing Muslim woman … I got through this moment. I hope I will be even stronger in the future,” Khelif says in the TV interview. Khelif returned to a “hero’s welcome” upon returning to Algeria with her gold metal, according to German broadcast service DW News. Image courtesy of The Associated Press