Imane Khelif in the Spotlight Following Donald Trump's Controversial Remarks

Imane Khelif at the Center of Trump’s Controversial Remarks

Donald Trump, the former American president and Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential elections, continues to stir controversy with his comments regarding the Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. During his appearance at the ‘Mothers for Liberty’ conference in Washington, Trump addressed the topic in a contentious manner.

Trump's Statements on Gender and Sports

In his statements, Trump brought up the Olympics, asserting: “We all watched the Olympics, did you notice what happened in boxing? There was a remarkable Italian champion, but she faced a transgender person,” clearly referencing Imane Khelif. He claimed, “I watched the match and the female boxer could have performed well if she had fought against a woman.”

Although Trump did not directly name Imane Khelif, his comments were evidently aimed at the match where the Algerian boxer secured a knockout victory over Italian Angela Carini. This particular fight had already ignited considerable controversy and debates in the sports world.

Previous Criticism and Khelif's Response

Trump had previously criticized Khelif during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, labeling not only Khelif but also a Taiwanese boxer as “men”. He also promised to “exclude men from female competitions,” a declaration reported by the Associated Press.

Imane Khelif, who won the gold medal in the heavyweight category (66 kg) at the Paris Olympics by defeating China’s Yang Liu, responded to the controversy stating, “I am a woman like all other women.” This response aimed to quell doubts and attacks regarding her gender identity.

Legal Support and Recognition

The International Boxing Committee had excluded Khelif from the 2023 World Championship, alleging that she did not meet gender eligibility criteria. However, the International Olympic Committee validated her participation in the Olympics, defending Khelif by stating that she was “born a woman, grew up as a woman, and is a woman according to travel documents.” Furthermore, the Algerian Olympic Committee threatened legal action against anyone making unfair comments regarding the boxer, affirming its support and protection for the athlete.