Brittney Griner Advocates for Imane Khelif: “Having XY Chromosomes Doesn’t Define Gender”
In a recent display of solidarity and advocacy, WNBA star Brittney Griner has voiced strong support for Imane Khelif. Griner’s statement, “Having XY chromosomes doesn’t mean we’re male,” underscores a crucial point in the ongoing dialogue about gender identity and recognition. “Not everyone is educated. I bet they never win in their life”, WNBA star added.
Olympic Gold Medalist Boxer Imane Khelif Files Online Harassment Complaint After Gender Controversy
Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who won the Olympic gold medal in the women’s boxing 66-kilogram division, has filed a complaint over online harassment in Paris.
During her run at the Olympics, the 25-year-old athlete was bullied on social media after one of her opponents, Italian boxer Angela Carini, abandoned the quarter-final match 46 seconds into its start and declared she “never felt a punch like this.” Khelif was disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) from last year’s Women’s World Championships after she failed a gender eligibility test due to elevated levels of testosterone in her system, but was born female and does not identify as transgender or intersex.
However, prominent influencers such as Logan Paul falsely claimed that Khelif was a man (Paul later retracted his statement), while other controversial figures like J.K. Rowling, Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni blamed the Olympics for allowing Khelif to compete in the women’s boxing competition.
Shortly after her victory over China’s Yang Liu on Friday, Khelif filed the complaint to the national center for combating online hate which is part of Paris correctional court, her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, confirmed to Variety. The Paris Prosecutor’s Office, which has yet to receive the complaint, is expected to proceed to an investigation.
Boudi told French newspaper Le Monde that Khelif had been victim of online bullying and “speculation fueled by malicious individuals” and pointed out “these messages were posted by important political figures” and “exceeded 100 million views” in some cases.
Khelif opened up about the ordeal during an interview with SNTV, a media outlet affiliated with the Associated Press, and said that her family was worried about her. “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,” she said.
Khelif said bullying “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.” She also thanked the Olympic Committee for doing her “justice.”
Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Commitee, has questioned the legitimacy of these claims and the genetic test that disqualified Khelif last year, suggesting that the controversy over her gender had been orchestrated by the IBA. The organization is led by Russian oligarchs and has been banned from the Olympics since June 2023 due to its ties to the Kremlin.
Khelif is one of several people involved in these Olympics to have filed a complaint over online bullying. Opening and closing ceremony artistic director Thomas Jolly, executive director Thierry Reboul, DJ Barbara Butch and famed drag queen Nicky Doll have also filed complaints.
Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark has been everything fans thought she would be coming out of college.
Throughout her rookie season, Clark seems to break some sort of record in each and every game. She also has the Fever primed to make the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2016.
In the latest episode of “Indiana Fever All-Access,” which gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the team throughout the 2024 season, Clark was a heavy feature.
Coach Christie Sides made an appearance in the episode and compared one aspect of Clark’s game to Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi and some NBA legends.
“When you talk about greats in this game, you know the Michael Jordan’s and the Kobe Bryant’s and the Steph Curry’s, they are putting her in that category,” Sides said. “The Diana Taurasi’s. She has that level of competitiveness in her… She wants everyone on her team to have that, and she has given that.”
Following the Olympic break, Clark has turned it up a notch, leading Indiana to a 6-1 record and the first winning record (17-16) the Fever have had in over five years. The former Iowa Hawkeyes star also won her first Player of the Week award for her performances between August 15-25.
Clark’s competitiveness Sides mentioned has come out in every game this season. Sometimes, it can go too far, as Clark has picked up five technical fouls on the season. Taurasi has also shown off her competitive spirit throughout the season and has six techs on the year, eight if you include the two that were rescinded.
Taurasi has been with the Mercury since 2004, helping them win three WNBA championships. The former UConn Huskies star also had a WNBA MVP award and six Olympic gold medals on her resume.
With their win over the Dallas Wings on Sunday, the Fever have now won four straight. They will bring their winning streak back to Indianapolis for a six-game homestand that starts on Wednesday, August 4, against the Los Angeles Sparks.
