imane khelif

‘This Is Misinformation’ Chael Sonnen Reacts to Imane Khelif’s Olympic Boxing Controversy

Imane Khelif was the target of online abuse by bad-faith actors earlier this week. The Algerian Olympic boxer has…

Imane Khelif was the target of online abuse by bad-faith actors earlier this week. The Algerian Olympic boxer has been the leading story during these Olympic games, and the story of her gender. Chael Sonnen, former UFC fighter, has taken a step forward to try and counteract the misleading information that has been circulating.

Many people online were led to believe that Imane Khelif was a trans athlete or a man acting as a woman. This infuriated the masses who called out in uproar. The fact is Imane Khelif is from Algeria where being a trans person is illegal and transitionary surgeries are not allowed. The Algerian Olympic boxer was born a woman and still is a woman to this day. Additionally, she has never been found to have increased levels of testosterone and has been in Olympic testing for at least four years.

Last year, Imane Khelif was suspended by the IBA, an organization that is not recognized as legitimate by the Olympics. The IOC has been critical of the IBA for corruption and not following proper procedures. In a statement, the IOC explained, “The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.”

“‘Are these athletes women?’ The answer is yes, according to eligibility, according to their passports, according to their history.” IOC director Mark Adams added.

Chael Sonnen Talks Imane Khelif

Those who acted too quickly, and judged without knowing more, are now taking a step back to apologize for their words. Chael Sonnen, former UFC title contender and MMA personality, has gone to X and is attempting to counteract misinformation being spread.

One Tweet claimed that two men were competing for medals in Olympic boxing. Sonnen responded simply: “This is not accurate.”

This is not accurate. https://t.co/DsCLFAlOKu

— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) August 4, 2024

In another Tweet, people tried to explain how women were fighting men in boxing. Sonnen countered with, “Matt, you got played. Delete this. The XY talk and the testing for such was misinformation.”

Matt, you got played. Delete this. The XY talk and the testing for such was misinformation. https://t.co/ksPSKxtzH6

— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) August 3, 2024

Angela Carini Apologizes to Imane Khelif – ‘Sad’ About Gender Issues in Olympic Boxing

The Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has been the topic of much debate in the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympic Games….

The Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has been the topic of much debate in the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The internet has been in an uproar regarding her gender, trans athletes, and intersex people. Italian athlete Angela Carini has taken a step forward and apologized for her past actions.

Imane Khelif

Amateur Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, who has an overall record of 38-9, was suspended last year by the International Boxing Association, an organization that is not recognized as legitimate by the Olympics, due to issues of corruption. The IBA did not explain what tests it ran for this boxer but they did specify that it was not over testosterone levels. The IOC was critical of the decision as it did not follow due process.

“The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.” The IOC said in a statement.

“‘Are these athletes women?’ The answer is yes, according to eligibility, according to their passports, according to their history,” Olympic manager Mark Adams explained.

Khelif has been under Olympic testing since at least 2020 and has not been found to have increased levels of testosterone. Imane Khelif is from Algeria, a country where it is illegal to transition or be a trans person. Khelif is not trans, she was born female and has always identified as a woman. However, a story distributed was enough to ignite bad-faith actors online.

Angela Carini

The Algerian boxer knocked out Angela Carini and left the Italianian athlete in tears as she quickly quit the match. A highlight that went viral and fanned the flames even more of those acting in bad faith in online spaces. Carini, amateur record of 84-23, has joined others in apologizing as they judged too quickly. She explains:

“All this controversy certainly made me sad, and I also felt sorry for my opponent, she had nothing to do with it and like me was only here to fight. It was not intentional, in fact I apologize to her and to everyone. I was angry, because my Games had already gone up in smoke. I have nothing against Khelif and on the contrary, if I happened to meet her again I would give her a hug.”

Olympics: Claressa Shields sends apology to Imane Khelif “I wish I would’ve did my research”

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been mired by the Imane Khelif story who has been the target of…

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been mired by the Imane Khelif story who has been the target of continuous attacks online. Claressa Shields, former Olympian and current boxing world champion, was quick to judge but has since changed her tone since finding out more.

Imane Khelif

Imane Khelif was suspended last year by the International Boxing Association (IBA) due to being born with XY chromosomes. This decision was criticized by the IOC as not having proper procedure. Due to this decision, the Olympic boxer Khelif has been the target of much hatred online. However, Khelif is a woman, not trans, was born a woman, and has always identified as a woman. It is illegal in Algeria, her home, to transition.

UFC fighters, boxers, online personalities, and more, began attacking Imane Khelif online due to this story which was caused by the IBA. Karim Zidan explains, “It is also worth noting that the IBA has been banned from regulating Olympic boxing because of years of governance problems, a lack of financial transparency and many perceived instances of corruption in judging and refereeing.”

The IOC adds, “The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.”

Claressa Shields Apologizes

Claressa Shields is one of the greatest female boxers in history. She earned two gold medals in the Olympic games while representing the USA. Since turning pro, she has earned WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, WBF, and The Ring world titles across multiple weight divisions. Additionally, Shields competes in MMA with the PFL. The GWOAT, like so many online, were quick to jump and attack. But, since learning more, she has now apologized.

“You can’t look at a woman and say ‘Oh, she doesn’t have a high level of testosterone,’” Shields explained while speaking to TMZ, “Because it can come in all different forms. Your muscles, your face, just inside of you and you look like a petite, beautiful woman, but you have a high level of testosterone…I feel bad now because I did an interview with Fox News earlier where I literally called these two women, transgenders, which that’s what I was told…”

“I wish I would’ve did my research before,” she continued, “Because now I couldn’t imagine being at the Olympics, winning these fights, and now I’m seeing all these articles and I’m trending because a two-time Olympic champ just called me a transgender. I just feel really bad about that, and I want to clear it up on my end that I have found out that these two women, were born women, and I don’t know what this testosterone stuff is about.” [H/t BJPenn]

Imane Khelif is actively competing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as a boxer. Overall, she has an amateur record of 37-9-0.

Imane Khelif: Olympics’ scolding statement on boxer backlash: ‘Based on scientific evidence’

Amid on the continued scrutiny regarding the competing of welterweight boxer, Imane Khelif at this summer’s Olympic Games in…

Amid on the continued scrutiny regarding the competing of welterweight boxer, Imane Khelif at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, France, the competition have released an official statement addressing her eligibility to compete amongst her female peers.

Khelif, who featured at last year’s World Championships, was disqualified from competition after failing a gender test, however, returned to compete at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Competing yesterday against Italian boxer, Angela Carani, Khelif forced a first round TKO win inside just 46-seconds, with the former turning her back and signally her resignation from the bout to her corner team.

Olympics release statement amid Imane Khelif controversy

Set to progress and take on Hungarian striker, Luca Hamoni in a quarter final bracket at the welterweight limit tomorrow, Khelif has been the subject of much controversy on social media, with former undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland claiming her participation is a sign of “political wokeness” within the Olympic structure.

Releasing an official statement, the COA defended Imane Khelif’s ability to compete amongst her female peers.

“COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets,” COA said in a statement released. “Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics. The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion.”

Furthermore, a subsequent statement from the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and the Paris 2014 Boxing Unit has been released.

“Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination,” The statement read. “All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing United. As with the previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport.”

Despite failing gender tests, two boxers allowed to compete in Paris Olympics

“These rules also applied during the qualification period, including the boxing tournaments of the 2023 European Games, Asian Games, Pan American Games and Pacific Games, the ad hod 2023 African qualifying tournament in Dakar and two world qualifying tournaments held in Busto Arsizio and Bangkok in 2024, which involved a total of 1,471 different boxers from the 172 National Olympic Committees, the Boxing Refugee Team and Individual Neutral Athletes, and featured over 2,000 qualification bouts.”

Imane Khelif: Sean Strickland comments on intersex Olympic boxer: ‘Political wokeness’

Outspoken former UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland is the latest fighter to hit out at Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif…

Outspoken former UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland is the latest fighter to hit out at Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif after her knockout win over Italian opponent, Angela Carani overnight, after just 46 seconds – claiming the former’s presence in the Summer Olympic Games in Paris is a surefire point to “political wokeness”.

Khelif, who has been the subject of much-scrutiny across social media this week, made her return to the Olympics this week in a matchup against Italian fighter, Carani – scoring a first round TKO win after just 46-seconds, with the latter turning her back and signalling to her corner she would not be competing further.

Disqualified from World Championship competition last year after failing a gender test, Khelif’s inclusion amongst fellow female competition was confirmed by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) – who confirmed the Algerian was eligible to compete despite criticizm.

“All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulatons in accordance with rules 1.4 and 3.1 of the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit,” A statement from the International Olympic Committee read.

“The BU endeavored to restrict amendments to minimise the impact on athletes’ preparation and guaranteeing consistency between Olympic games.”

Sean Strickland hits out at boxer, Imane Khelif

Posting a video on his official X account hitting out at Khelif’s inclusion amongst female boxing peers, Strickland blasted the Olympics as “politically woke”.

“Here’s the facts,” Sean Strickland wrote. “The Olympics didn’t test this boxer (Imane Khelif) for political reasons. This boxer has failed a gender test in the past. The boxer may be intersex. This situation was created because the Olympics failed their athletes and their fans out of political wokeness.”

Here's the facts. The Olympics didn't test this boxer for political reasons. This boxer has failed a gender test in the past. The boxer may be intersex.. This situation was created because the Olympics failed their athletes and their fans out of political wokeness. pic.twitter.com/c5fRqGyiny

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) August 1, 2024

Khelif is scheduled to return to the ring tomorrow in a quarter final bracket, taking on Hungarian boxer, Luca Hamoni at the welterweight limit.

What are your thoughts on Imane Khelif’s competing at the Olympic Games?