‘It can destroy people’: Imane Khelif emotionally asks for bullying towards her to end

Olympic boxer Imane Khelif has spoken out about the amount of bullying she has received online, following misconceptions about her gender following her first Olympics boxing match against Angela Carini. Imane’s inclusion is controversial as she was not allowed to compete in the women’s world championships last year after failing testosterone and gender eligibility tests. She was born female and is cisgender, however she has still received huge amounts of harassment.

Numerous high profile figures such as JK Rowling, Elon Musk and Piers Morgan have now been falsely calling the boxer Imane Khelif a man, despite the fact she was born female.

Via ALI HAIDER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Imane Khelif spoke out about the bullying both she and other athletes participating in the Olympics receive, and how damaging it is for them. In an interview with SNTV, she said: “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, 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.”

She also expressed gratitude to the International Olympic Committee and its president, Thomas Bach, for standing behind her in their decision to allow her to compete in the Olympics.

She continued: “I know that the Olympic Committee has done me justice, and I am happy with this remedy because it shows the truth. I don’t care about anyone’s opinion. I came here for a medal, and to compete for a medal. I will certainly be competing to improve (and) be better, and God willing, I will improve, like every other athlete.”

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Featured image via Mark Edward Harris/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock.