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Draft:2024 Summer Olympics Boxing Controversy

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Contents WP:SPLIT from Imane Khelif; please see its history for attribution

Algeria vs Italy at the 2024 Olympic Games, arena Paris Nord, Villepinte in Seine-Saint-Denis.

The 2024 Summer Olympics Controversy centred around the female Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif and the sepculation that she was not being truthful about her gender identity. Viewers of the sport claimed that Khelif was a transgender woman and therefore should be classified as a male boxer. This misinformation was not only untrue as Khelif is a cisgender woman, but was deemed as incredibly controversial and discriminative by left wing activists. As of 2024, Khelif has begun to take legal action against some of those who spread this misinformation online including well-known public figures and celebrities such as JK Rowling, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump.


2024 Olympic Games and Online Misinformation

See also: Concerns and controversies at the 2024 Summer Olympics § Women's boxing controversy

The boxing events in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics were managed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Paris 2024 Boxing Unit. [1] The IBA had been suspended by the IOC in 2019 due to governance issues under prior leadership; since then, Olympic boxing has been overseen by an IOC task force.[2][3] The IOC cleared Khelif to compete in Paris, confirming that she complied with all necessary eligibility and medical regulations for the event.[4][5] While the IOC does not test athletes for gender,[6][clarification needed] it stated that all athletes competing in Paris comply with the competition's eligibility and entry regulation, and that Khelif "was born female, was registered female, lived her life as a female, boxed as a female, has a female passport".[7][8] Later, the IOC confirmed receiving the letter from the IBA in June 2023, and stated that "from the conception of the test, to how the test was shared with us, to how the tests have become public, is so flawed that it's impossible to engage with it".[9]

Arabic-language interview with Khelif following her second-round fight

During the IBA press conference in Paris on 5 August 2024, the organization's position and its president, Umar Kremlev, regarding the nature of the conducted tests changed and became contradictory. Initially, the IBA claimed that sex verification tests were conducted. Still, at the conference, Secretary General Chris Roberts spoke of "chromosome tests", while Kremlev asserted that the tests aimed to determine testosterone levels in athletes. The situation was exacerbated by Kremlev's statements, who repeatedly criticized IOC President Thomas Bach, declared his intention to initiate legal proceedings against him, and expressed dissatisfaction with the Olympic Games opening ceremony, calling it "humiliating".[10][11] [12][13]The IBA claimed to have used laboratories accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for testing, but WADA denied involvement in sex verification, stating it deals solely with anti-doping matters.[12]

Seeded fifth in the women's 66 kg (welterweight) event, [14] Khelif defeated Hungary's Luca Hámori in the quarterfinals on 3 August.[15][16] She then defeated Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng in the semifinals on 6 August, guaranteeing her at least a silver medal in the event.[17][18] On 9 August, she defeated Yang Liu of China in the final to win the gold medal.[19][20] Khelif became Algeria's first female gold medallist in boxing, as well as the country's first boxer of any gender to win a medal since Mohamed Allalou in 2000[21] and the first to win a gold medal since Hocine Soltani in 1996.[19][22]

Khelif's win came after she faced intense public scrutiny over her eligibility to compete in the women's category, including from celebrities and world leaders. Khelif became the target of online abuse and misinformation, including the false claim that she is a man,[23][24][25][26][27] which was promoted by figures such as J. K. Rowling.[28] In response, Khelif said that the backlash she received "harms human dignity" and called for an end to the bullying of athletes.[29] Khelif filed a criminal complaint in France against multiple individuals for cyberbullying, naming in it Rowling and Elon Musk, among others.[30][31][32]


Second-round fight against Angela Carini

Khelif (red) and Carini during their second-round fight at the 2024 Summer Olympics

On 1 August, in the second round of her fight, Khelif defeated Angela Carini of Italy 46 seconds after the match commenced, when Carini withdrew after receiving two blows, citing intense pain in her nose. Carini reportedly exclaimed, "It's not fair!" after a punch from Khelif. Because of this, Khelif received online backlash from those who questioned her gender.[33]

The next day, Carini apologized to Khelif via the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, stating, "All this controversy makes me sad [...] I'm sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision."[34][35] The Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) defended Khelif, stating before the match that Khelif had been the victim of "unethical targeting" and "baseless propaganda", and that they had taken "all necessary measures" to protect Khelif and her right to compete.[36]

Khelif's father, in a statement to Sky Sports, stated, "My child is a girl. She was raised as a girl. She's a strong girl. I raised her to be hard-working and brave. She has a strong will to work and to train."[37] At a news conference on 3 August 2024, IOC President Thomas Bach defended the participation of Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, saying, "There was never any doubt about them being a woman."[38] He further reaffirmed that Khelif was born a woman and denounced hate speech against her.[39]

[edit]

Imane Khelif has initiated legal action following reports that leaked her medical records and causes online harassment. Khelif’s legal action targets both the individuals responsible for the comments made during the Olympic Games and those involved in the leaking of her medical details. She has also filed complaints with French authorities over the harassment she faced. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressed it’s support towards Khelif, issuing a statement that all athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics met the required competing standards based on passport verification and medical regulations.[40] Imane Khelif has filed a criminal complaint in France accusing Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling of cyberbullying. The complaint, filed with the National Centre for the Fight Against Online Hatred, alleges harassment, gender-based insults, and incitement to discrimination. The Paris Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation, which will investigate both known and anonymous individuals involved in the harassment. The case highlights growing concerns over online abuse and the responsibilities of public figures in preventing such behaviour.[41]

A French legal blogger has said that Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling are unlikely to be prosecuted, because French law usually does not apply to actions outside of France, especially when the victims are foreign nationals.[42]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ingle, Sean (30 July 2024). "Boxers who failed gender tests at world championships cleared to compete at Olympics". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/29/boxers-who-failed-gender-tests-at-world-championships-cleared-to-compete-at-olympics.
  2. ^ Grohmann, Karolos (26 June 2019). "Tokyo 2020 Olympics: IOC officially bans AIBA from amateur boxing due to finance and government issues". The Independent. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2024. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boxing/tokyo-2020-olympics-games-boxing-aiba-banned-latest-news-a8975326.html.
  3. ^ Morgan, Liam (4 July 2019). "Tokyo 2020 confirm boxing test event schedule after IOC decision". Inside the Games. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2024. Available at: https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1081588/tokyo-2020-confirm-boxing-test-event.
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  5. ^ Nair, Aadi (29 July 2024). "Boxing-Two boxers who failed gender tests at World Championships cleared for Games". Reuters. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/boxing-two-boxers-who-failed-gender-tests-world-championships-cleared-games-2024-07-29/.
  6. ^ Carpenter, Les (1 August 2024). "Olympic boxer who faced gender-eligibility claim wins, igniting outcry". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2024/08/01/imane-khelif-algerian-boxer-gender-paris-olympics/.
  7. ^ Jacoby, Sarah (2 August 2024). "What happened with Imane Khelif? Olympic boxer's win sparks gender eligibility controversy". Today. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024. Available at: https://www.today.com/health/news/imane-khelif-boxer-gender-eligibility-controversy-rcna164854.
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  9. ^ Leicester, John (4 August 2024). "IOC calls tests that sparked vitriol targeting boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting impossibly flawed". AP News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024. Available at: https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-imane-khelif-lin-yuting-boxing-13e9529195585404c7b03c96f97dd634.
  10. ^ Carpenter, Les (5 August 2024). "Russian boxing chief fuels Olympic turmoil in bizarre news conference". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2024/08/05/umar-kremlev-olympic-boxing/.
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  12. ^ a b Kearns, Sean (5 August 2024). "IBA holds chaotic news conference on Olympic boxing row". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/cq5dd2lz8y8o.
  13. ^ Geraint, Hughes (5 August 2024). "Olympics 2024: How IBA's chaotic conference unfolded amid boxing eligibility row at Paris Games". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024. Available at: https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/13191547/olympics-2024-how-ibas-chaotic-conference-unfolded-amid-boxing-eligibility-row-at-paris-games.
  14. ^ "Entry List by Event: Boxing Women's 66kg" (PDF). Olympics.com. 25 July 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.Available at: https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/BOX/OG2024_BOX_C32C1_BOXW66KG--------------------------.pdf.
  15. ^ Maouche, Redha (2 August 2024). "Mohamed Allalou, ancien boxeur médaillé olympique : «Khelif remportera la médaille d'or»" [Mohamed Allalou, former Olympic medalist boxer: 'Khelif will win the gold medal']. El Moudjahid (in French). Retrieved 3 August 2024. Available at: https://www.elmoudjahid.dz/fr/sports/mohamed-allalou-ancien-boxeur-medaille-olympique-khelif-remportera-la-medaille-d-or-221704.
  16. ^ Beacham, Greg (3 August 2024). "Algerian boxer Imane Khelif clinches medal at Paris Olympics after gender outcry". AP News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024. Available at: https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-imane-khelif-boxing-gender-a3c7695f2efc635cfc7a5ba9e2ef01e8.
  17. ^ Ward, Tom; Morgan, Tom (6 August 2024). "Imane Khelif cruises into women's boxing final with dominant victory over Thai opponent". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2024/08/06/boxing-live-imane-khelif-janjaem-suwannapheng-semi-final/.
  18. ^ "Olympics 2024: Imane Khelif through to welterweight gold medal fight in Paris". Sky Sports. 6 August 2024. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024. Available at: https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/13192141/olympics-2024-imane-khelif-through-to-welterweight-gold-medal-fight-in-paris.
  19. ^ a b Beacham, Greg (9 August 2024). "Boxer Imane Khelif wins gold to cap an Olympics marked by scrutiny over her sex". AP News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024. Available at: https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-boxing-imane-khelif-a177d6795d27dbc02db1313de0266753.
  20. ^ Pierce, Zack (9 August 2024). "Imane Khelif wins Olympic boxing gold medal, ending trying Games with triumph". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024. Available at : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5691920/2024/08/09/imane-khelif-olympics-boxing-gold-medal-yang-liu/.
  21. ^ "JO 2024. Sedjati, Khelif, Nemour... Quelles sont les chances de médailles de l'Algérie à Paris ?" [2024 Olympics. Sedjati, Khelif, Nemour... What are Algeria's chances of medals in Paris?]. Ouest-France (in French). 24 July 2024. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024. Available at: https://www.ouest-france.fr/jeux-olympiques/jo-2024-sedjati-khelif-nemour-quelles-sont-les-chances-de-medailles-de-lalgerie-a-paris-e81fe2ac-4992-11ef-ae43-8601f2d4302d.
  22. ^ Dotson, Kevin (9 August 2024). "Algerian boxer Imane Khelif wins Olympic gold after social media firestorm". CNN. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024. Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/09/sport/imane-khelif-gold-medal-boxing-spt/index.html.
  23. ^ Beacham, Greg (9 August 2024). "Algerian boxer Imane Khelif wins gold at Olympics after enduring abuse fueled by misinformation". PBS NewsHour. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024. Those cheering fans have embraced Khelif throughout her run in Paris even as she faced an extraordinary amount of scrutiny from world leaders, major celebrities and others who have questioned her eligibility or falsely claimed she was a man.Available at: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/algerian-boxer-imane-khelif-fights-for-olympic-gold-after-enduring-abuse-fueled-by-misinformation.
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  26. ^ Pequeño, Antonio IV (9 August 2024). "What To Know About Olympics Gender Debate As Imane Khelif Wins Women's Boxing Final". Forbes. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024. Khelif's participation at the Olympics has been a subject of intense scrutiny after she was disqualified during the 2023 International Boxing Association's World Boxing Championships for allegedly failing to meet eligibility requirements for the women's competition Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2024/08/09/what-to-know-about-olympics-gender-debate-as-imane-khelif-faces-off-in-womens-boxing-final/.
  27. ^ Andres, Patrick (9 August 2024). "Algeria's Imane Khelif Wins Welterweight Boxing Gold Medal After Olympics Scrutiny". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024. Following her round of 16 win over Italy's Angela Carini, Khelif became the subject of wild speculation and falsehoods surrounding her gender" Available at: https://www.si.com/olympics/algeria-imane-khelif-wins-welterweight-boxing-gold-medal-scrutiny-controversy.
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  33. ^ 33. Sharf, Zack (1 August 2024). "J.K. Rowling, Elon Musk Criticize Olympics After Algeria's Imane Khelif Wins Women's Boxing Match Amid Gender Controversy: 'A Misogynist Sporting Establishment'". Variety. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  34. ^ Crivelli, Riccardo. "Carini: 'Nulla di programmato, la mia resa non è debolezza ma maturità. Khelif? La abbraccerei'" [Carini: 'Nothing planned, my surrender is not weakness but maturity. Khelif? I would embrace her']. Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024. Available at: https://www.gazzetta.it/olimpiadi/discipline/pugilato/02-08-2024/angela-carini-l-intervista-io-imane-khelif-le-polemiche-il-pugno-la-resa_preview.shtml.
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  38. ^ Morgan, Tom (3 August 2024). "'No doubt' boxers like Imane Khelif are women, says Olympics president". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2024/08/03/thomas-bach-ioc-boxers-imane-khelif-women-no-debate/.
  39. ^ Jacoby, Sarah (2 August 2024). "What happened with Imane Khelif? Olympic boxer's win sparks gender eligibility controversy". Today. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024. Available at: https://www.today.com/health/news/imane-khelif-boxer-gender-eligibility-controversy-rcna164854.
  40. ^ “Olympic Champion Imane Khelif takes legal action over gender claims and online abuse”. The Express Tribune. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024. Available at : https://tribune.com.pk/story/2508033/olympic-champion-imane-khelif-takes-legal-action-over-gender-claims-and-online-abuse.
  41. ^ Keslassy, Elsa. Ritman, Alex. “J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk Named in Cyberbullying Lawsuit Filed by Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif After Olympic Win (EXCLUSIVE)”. Variety. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024. Available at: https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/jk-rowling-elon-musk-imane-khelif-lawsuit-1236105185/.
  42. ^ “Rowling and Musk reportedly named in Khelif cyberbullying complaint”. BBC. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2njjm4e2po.
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