Former Team GB star Nicola Adams has waded into the controversy surrounding Imane Khelif at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Khelif – representing Algeria at the Games – has sparked major backlash following a 46-second victory against Italy’s Angela Carini in the women’s boxing on August 1.
Carini retired from the bout after being rocked by two huge punches and reports claim the 25-year-old suffered a broken nose during the bout.
The win for Khelif has been shrouded in controversy after she failed gender eligibility test in 2023 which resulted in her being disqualified from the 2023 World Championships.
Despite the failed despite, the International Olympic Committee cleared her to compete in the games earlier this month.
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Adams is a trailblazer for women’s boxing and was the first ever female to win an Olympic boxing gold medal and retained her title four years later.
She is the latest high-profile figure to speak out on the controversial bout, claiming her hard work is being undone by allowing Khelif to compete.
Adams wrote on X: “After years of fighting for women’s boxing to even exist in the Olympics and then all the training they go though to get there it was hard to watch another fighter be forced give up on her Olympic dreams.
“People not born as biological women, that have been through male puberty should not be able to complete in women’s sport. Not only is this unfair it’s dangerous!”
Many users have reacted to her post and believe she has got the facts wrong, with a few saying she should immediately retract her statement.
Nicola Adams X
One fan replied: “This is wrong on so many levels. Whether she should be allowed to compete is up for debate, but she was born a woman and never went through male puberty. You should retract this statement.”
Another said: “Nicola, no! These women were born women, they took part in Tokyo for heaven’s sake. Imane Khelif competes for Algeria where being gay or trans is illegal. NEITHER woman has been through male puberty.”
A third said: “This is extremely unhelpful and inaccurate Nicola. She was born a woman, is a woman, and will always be a woman. Her genetic disorder does not change that.”
A fourth added: “This is ignorant and incorrect . She was born a woman and has been living as a woman since birth. She has competed against other women her entire career. She is not a trans woman. Like Caster she also has the presence some male DNA. Please use your platform carefully.”
Finally, a fifth said: “You may be an Olympic champion but that does not give you the right to spread harmful misinformation. educate yourself.”
Nicola Adams has been criticised on social media (Getty)
Khelif will face Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in the next round on Saturday who has spoken out about facing the Algeria star.
She said, as per the New York Post: “I’m not scared. I don’t care about the press story and social media.”
Hamori also spoke about Carini’s decision to stop the fight. She said: “It was her choice.
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“I don’t understand, because I thought every boxer’s mind is the same like mine, to never give up. But it was her choice. We don’t know what was the reason. It’s her life, but I know I want to do this in my own life.”
