“It can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people,” Khelif said

Imane Khelif. Photo: Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty

Olympian Imane Khelif is sharing an important message amid the boxing controversy at the 2024 Paris Games.

On Sunday, Aug. 4, the Algerian boxer, 25, called for people to refrain from “bullying” athletes in an interview with SNTV, a sports video partner of the Associated Press.

“I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects,” Khelif told the outlet in Arabic, translated by the AP.

“It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying,” the boxer continued.

Imane Khelif. Richard Pelham/Getty

Some have questioned whether Khelif should have been eligible to compete at the Olympics after being disqualified from the 2023 boxing world championships due to failing an unspecified gender eligibility test from the International Boxing Association, according to a separate report from the Associated Press.

As she discussed dealing with the controversy while being away from home and her loved ones, Khelif added, “I am in contact with my family two days a week. I hope that they weren’t affected deeply.”

“They are worried about me. God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, and that would be the best response,” she continued, according to the Associated Press, sharing her appreciation for the Olympic Committee for doing her “justice.”

Per the outlet, Khelif said of the online discussion, “Honestly, I don’t follow social media. There is a mental health team that doesn’t let us follow social media, especially in the Olympic Games, whether me or other athletes. I’m here to compete and get a good result.”

On Saturday, Aug. 3, Khelif got emotional after beating Hungarian Luca Anna Hamori at the Games, per the BBC. “I feel good,” she told the outlet.

“It’s the first medal in women’s boxing in Algeria – I’m very happy. I want to thank all the world and the Arabic world – thank you so much,” she added.

Khelif’s win came after she ignited discussions about female athletes on Thursday, Aug. 1, after Italian boxer Angela Carini bowed out of her match against Khelif after 46 seconds.

Imane Khelif (left) competes against Anna Luca Hamori at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Aug. 3, 2024.Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty

Carini, who burst into tears and fell to her knees during the match, has since apologized after failing to shake Khelif’s hand.

“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,” Carini told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Clarifying why she didn’t shake Khelif’s hand after the match, Carini stated, “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,” she continued.

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