Tony Bellew makes feelings clear on Imane Khelif after boxing gender controversy at Paris Olympics
Boxing news: Imane Khelif recently won gold at the Paris Olympics despite facing scrutiny over her gender
REUTERS
Tony Bellew has backed Imane Khelif and launched a staunch defence of the boxer after she recently won gold at the Paris Olympics.
The Algerian's gender was widely scrutinised during the competition in France after the discredited International Boxing Association alleged that she had previously failed two gender eligibility tests at the World Boxing Championships last year.
Khelif was allowed to compete at the Olympics, however, just as she'd been permitted to take part in the Tokyo Games in 2021.
She beat four opponents on her way to winning gold but her participation was a big talking point due to the gender rumours online.
Boxing news: Imane Khelif recently won gold at the Paris Olympics despite facing scrutiny over her gender
REUTERS
Former boxing star Bellew, speaking to Instant Casino, has now provided his take on the matter.
He has launched a strong defence of Khelif, saying she should be allowed to compete with women because she was born one.
"Well, straightaway, if you’re born a woman, you’ll want to fight a woman, that’s very, very fair," he said.
"I don’t care what your Testosterone levels are as long as she’s proven she’s a clean athlete, which she’s proven and she’s born a woman.
"She should be allowed to compete with women."
Bellew also expressed sympathy for Khelif, insisting there is an 'agenda' against the gold medallist.
"Because there are so many conflicts, you can never go on social media to find the truth, that’s the bottom line," he added.
"If you go on social media to find the truth, you’re going to find someone else’s spin, someone else’s agenda, and someone else’s narrative.
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"Just find the truth. Just tell them the truth.
"At first I was told it’s a man fighting women and then when I thought, well that can’t be possibly right, that was sure it wouldn’t be allowed and then I seen the young girl on the news and she was in tears and I’m told by all accounts, by taking her opinion into account, she’s born a woman and she is a woman, but she has male hormones as well.
"The agenda is that she’s a female and she has female parts. So I don’t get that, that’s not her fault.”
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Boxing news: Tony Bellew has defended Imane Khelif following her gold medal at the Paris Olympics
PA
Gender rows in sports are now commonplace, unlike many years ago. Khelif was accused of being transgender by some corners of the internet, which is totally incorrect.
Bellew does admit he 'doesn't agree' with trans athletes competing against women and says it is 'unfair' that some sports allow that to happen.
Boxing news: Imane Khelif poses with her gold medal at the Paris Olympics
REUTERS
"One thing I don’t agree with is this transgender thing we’re going down where this person’s born a man and says ‘right I want to compete against women’. I’m not having that in any way, shape or form," he said.
"I think that is very unfair. And I think we’ve got to get away from men and women being all one species. No we’re not, we’re different."