- Boxing. IOC says tests that sparked criticism of Khelif and Lin were "flawed"
- Boxing. Floyd Mayweather wins $34,500 betting against 'Pitbull' Cruz and predicting the draw of Andy Ruiz Jr.
Imane Khelif hit out at bullying at the 2024 Olympic Games and warned it can have dangerous consequences for individuals and society as the boxer continues to triumph despite criticism over her gender.
The Algerian has been subject to an online hate campaign after false information said she is a born-male transgender athlete competing in women's boxing attracting critics such as JK Rowling and Donald Trump.
The reality is she was born and raised as a woman and has had her eligibility repeatedly ratified by the International Olympic Committee, as has Lin Yu-Ting, a Taiwanese fighter under the same scrutiny.
"I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes," Khelif said in Arabic to SNTV. "Because this has effects, massive effects.
"It can destroy people, it can kill people's thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying."
Khelif's opponents hit out at her
Not only has the hate remained online though. In the build up to the bout against Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori, Khelif's opponent posted artwork depicting the Algerian as a monstrous, inhuman beast whilst presenting herself as a diminutive and fragile figure.
After Khelif won via unanimous decision after three rounds, Hamori appeared to make an XX gesture with her fingers, alluding to the chromosomes of men and women as Khelif is alleged to possess the male XY chromosomes although there is no proven evidence for this.
It appears to be a reference to the decision made by the International Boxing Association (IBA) to ban Khelif and Lin from the 2023 World Championships after conducting a test that they concluded proved they had an unfair advantage, although the results were never published nor the tests specified.
The IBA was later stripped of their status as the world-leading body of boxing by the IOC, before they also endured a tough time in the Court of Arbitration for Sport too with their credibility under question.