Social media rallies behind Imane Khelif as racism over Muslim boxer turns ugly

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has become the center of a racist attack after her opponent Angela Carini of Italy quit their match while crying, just 46 seconds into the first round.

The two women exchanged just a few punches before Carini’s helmet was dislodged. She refused to shake Imane’s hands and cried on her knees in the ring. Later, she said that she quit after experiencing intense pain in her nose. Notably, she said that she had not refused to fight Imane.

The match led to an uproar among right-wing Western conservatives, including Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Elon Musk, who instantly resorted to calling Imane a man because she had failed an unspecified test in the World Boxing Championships last year. The governing body said she had “elevated levels of testosterone.”

Social media was quick to rally to Khelif’s defence, pointing out that she had been competing as an amateur since years and had been defeated by women before this match.

Users shared childhood pictures of the Algerian sportswoman, showing her in girl’s clothing and pigtails. Others pointed out that Algeria is a conservative Muslim country where women cannot have gender reassignment surgeries and transgenderism is legally barred.

Nida Kirmani wrote that the episode proved that black and brown athletes face immense racism.

Algerian Football Media account called her a “superwoman”.

Another account called out Rowling and pointed out that Khelif just has elevated testosterone, something she was born with.

Others called out Carini for crying about being hit in a boxing match.