JK Rowling fumes 'frankly bonkers' in Imane Khelif rant as boxer bags Olympics final spot amid gender row

Khelif's participation has been the subject of global debate due to the fact she was banned from the world championships helmed by the IBA (International Boxing Association) last year for failing a gender eligibility test.

The Russian-backed boxing body refused to allow Khelif and Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu-ting to compete last year after claiming to find the XY chromosome in their tests - the strand typically found in males.

The IOC's eligibility tests aren't the same as the IBA's and as the organisation is overseeing the boxing at the Paris Games, both boxers have been allowed to compete.

Caitlyn Jenner has been one vocal opponent to Khelif's involvement and Rowling has followed suit, continuing to do so after the Algerian sailed through the semis.

Rowling took to social media to hit back at critics who have accused her of being motivated by "transphobia" in her critique of Khelif.

But the Harry Potter author claimed: "Commentators pretending critics of the IOC’s reliance on documents rather than sex testing think Khelif is trans are straw-manning.

"I don’t claim Khelif is trans. My objection, and that of many others, is to male violence against women becoming an Olympic sport."

Rowling followed up her clarification with a second post, once again hitting back at her critics: "For the record, bombarding me with pictures of athletic women to ‘teach’ me that women don’t all look like Barbie is like spamming me with pics of differently-shaped potatoes to prove rocks are edible.

For the record, bombarding me with pictures of athletic women to ‘teach’ me that women don’t all look like Barbie is like spamming me with pics of differently-shaped potatoes to prove rocks are edible. I can still see the difference and you look frankly bonkers.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 7, 2024

"I can still see the difference and you look frankly bonkers."

Both Rowling and Jenner are far from the only celebrities to have spoken out against Khelif's inclusion after she saw off Italian Angela Carini in her opening bout.

Former Team GB boxer Nicola Adams was met with fury from her fanbase when she cryptically took a dig at the situation while YouTuber-turned-WWE star Logan Paul was condemned by Star Trek star George Takei for blasting the IOC.

Khelif hasn't let the outside noise dampen her spirits at the games as she danced around the ring following her victory on Tuesday.

She told the media afterward: "I am focused. I am here for a good performance and my dream.

"I will give everything I have for the final. I am very happy. I am happy for all the support here in Paris. I want to thank all of the people of Algeria who came here."

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Her semi-final opponent Suwannapheng said after their bout: "I had heard about the news regarding her, but I wasn't following it closely.

"She is a woman, but she is very strong. I tried to use my speed, but my opponent was just too strong."

On Wednesday evening, Yu-ting will similarly take part in a semi-final bout in the 57kg division to see if she can bag a spot in the gold medal match.

Yu-ting takes on Turkish athlete Esra Yildiz Kahraman to see who'll compete for the gold.