06/08/2024 | Writer: Kaos GL
“We condemn the bullying and discrimination suffered by Imane Khelif during the Paris 2024 Olympics.”
QLUB, a sports community that organizes meetings across various sports for those seeking a safe, supportive, and queer-friendly environment, responded to the hate and disinformation campaign targeting Algerian boxer Imane Khelif.
QLUB, a community that seeks to promote the well-being of LGBTI+ people and women through sports, while also working to strengthen LGBTI+ sports activism in Turkey, issued a statement condemning the bullying and discrimination faced by Imane Khelif during the Paris 2024 competitions. The community emphasized their support for Khelif's right to participate in sports, saying, “We condemn the bullying and discrimination suffered by Imane Khelif and fully defend her right to participate in sport.”
In a statement titled “Facts against Disinformation,” QLUB clarified, “Imane Khelif is a woman. There is no known declaration that she is transgender or intersex.” The community highlighted that Khelif was previously disqualified from the 2023 World Boxing Championship due to allegedly failing an unspecified gender eligibility test, which has different criteria from those of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC has denounced the test, calling it too “flawed” to engage with. QLUB reminded that IOC withdrew its recognition of the IBA following a host of governmental transparency issues, including concerns over instances of corruption and allegations of mismanagement.
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Furthermore, QLUB pointed out that Khelif had previously competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and numerous women’s tournaments. They noted that Mark Adams, spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee, confirmed that all athletes competing in the women’s category, including Khelif, comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit.
Tags: human rights, women
