Fake news, anti-trans rhetoric spreads amid Imane Olympic win

RECENTLY, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif won her recent match in women’s boxing against Italy’s Angela Carini at the Paris Games, wherein the game lasted a total of 46 seconds.

By Gaby Agbulos

Many on the internet have been outraged, claiming that the fight was not fair because they accused Imane Khelif of being a transgender. But as confirmed by GLAAD and InterACT, Khelif is not transgender, nor is she intersex. Imane Khelif is a biological female.

Many were confused about Khelif’s gender given that, as per Forbes Magazine, she’d been ineligible to join the 2023 International Boxing Associaton’s World Boxing Championships due to failure to meet the eligibility requirements for the women’s competition.

It was also reported to the Russian news organization TASS that Khelif had XY chromosomes, which raised eyebrows given that women have XX chromosomes, while men have XY.

The fact still stands, however, that Khelif was born female. She does however, according to USA Today, have differences in sexual development, otherwise known as DSDs.

USA Today further explains that DSDs are a set of rare conditions that can be seen in one’s genes, hormones, and reproductive organs. A person with this disease may have different sexual development, or have XY chromosomes, despite their biological gender.

Spewing anti-trans rhetoric

Even though it has been proven that Khelif is a biological female, plenty of anti-trans rhetoric has started going around on the internet, particularly from alt-right groups.

Many celebrities and politicians, such as “Harry Potter” series author J.K. Rowling, have shown anger toward the Olympics for their decision to allow Khelif to advance in the Olympics.

Even Former President Donald Trump has taken to the internet, saying: “I WILL KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN’S SPORTS!”

Khelif, however, cannot control the fact that she has DSDs. And she is not alone; another athlete, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, is also competing in the Olympics this year. Before this, the pair also competed in the 2021 Tokyo Games but lost.

There are also many athletes in the past, who have identified as being transgender or intersex, and who have joined in the Olympics. In 2009, for example, there was South African track runner Caster Semenya, who also had DSDs.

Even the Philippines has a transgender athlete competing in the Olympics this year: Hergie Bacyadan, who competed in the women’s 75kg bout.

According to Forbes Magazine, Carini herself also stated that she wants to change how she handled what happened after the fight, and wants to apologize for not shaking Khelif’s hand following their match. She has also told Italian media, as per Context News, that she is saddened by the controversy over her opponent’s gender. In an interview with Sport, she also stated that if the IOC said she could fight, then she respects that decision.

Many on the internet have also pointed out that they find it hilarious that this much outrage is being spread about Khelif’s gender despite her being biologically female, but not nearly as much attention has been given to the fact that a convicted child rapist, Netherlands’s Steven Van de Velde, is competing as well.

Since this issue has arisen, Khelif has released a statement calling for an end to bullying athletes.

“I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles, according to the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes because it has effects – massive effects,” she said.

“It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, mind and spirit, and it can divide people.”

In an interview with UNICEF, Khelif has been training since she was a young girl, raising money for boxing lessons because her father did not approve of her taking up the sport given her gender. She would also have to travel 10 kilometers away from her village just so she could train in the next village over.

To be able to afford all of this, she would sell scrap metal for recycling, while her mother sold couscous. It was through these efforts that she was slowly able to make her way to the top.

She was even picked on as a result of her love for boxing, with the boys in her village often picking fights with her because they felt threatened by her.  In an interview with UNICEF, she said: “I started with nothing and now I have everything.”

She is now an ambassador for UNICEF and hopes to become a role model who will influence the youth in Algeria to get more involved in sports.

“My message to young people is to follow your dreams; don’t let obstacles come in your way, resist any obstacles and overcome them,” she said.

“My dream is to win a gold medal. If I win, mothers and fathers can see how far their children can go. I particularly want to inspire girls and children who are disadvantaged in Algeria.”

Courtesy:  Republicasia Media

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