Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova, and Andy Murray’s mother Judy reacted to the controversy at the 2024 Paris Olympics over Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. The Algerian athlete, who failed a gender test last year, participated in a boxing bout at the Olympics in the women’s 66kg category.
Khelif took on Italy’s Angela Carini on Thursday, August 1. Within 30 seconds of the bout, Carini went to her coach and got her headgear fixed after getting punched by Khelif.
Just 16 seconds later, Carini decided to abandon her first-round Olympics bout. After the match, Carini claimed she had never been punched so hard.
Controversy soon ensued regarding Khelif’s eligibility to compete. The Algerian was disqualified at the 2023 World Championships after failing a gender test. According to the IBA President, her DNA consisted of XY chromosomes.
The IBA, however, does not govern the Olympic boxing event. Under IOC’s rules, Khelif was allowed to compete.
Famed Harry Potter author JK Rowling took to X to repost a thread of videos from the bout between Khelif and Carini. She claimed ‘this isn’t sport’ and called Khelif a ‘bullying cheat’. Rowling condemned the authorities for letting the Algerian compete.
Boris Becker reposted Rowling’s update on X and agreed with her feelings. He wrote:
“Word.”
Martina Navratilova also reposted Rowling’s update and wrote:
“Exactly right. This is all on IOC and those in power who make the rules. It’s a travesty and makes a mockery of all Olympic sports.”
Meanwhile, Judy Murray reposted an update on X which described the issue as ‘an absolute scandal’. She wrote:
“This should never have been allowed to happen. Bring back the swab test. Sport has to be fair and safe for biological women.”
“This will not end well for the people in power” – Martina Navratilova on Imane Khelif’s participation at Paris Olympics
Martina Navratilova has been vocal about her support for the exclusion of transgender athletes from women’s sports. Although there is no evidence that Khelif is transgender, Navratilova has taken a stance against the Algerian competing in women’s boxing.
She reposted several updates about the controversial bout on X.
The American tennis icon condemned the authorities who deemed Khelif eligible to compete. She wrote:
“Deplorable. This will not end well for the people in power who allowed this to happen.”
Lin Yu-ting of Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) also failed the gender test at the 2023 World Championships. She was stripped of her bronze medal. However, she will also be competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics and will take on Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova on Friday, August 2.
