Algerian boxer filing legal claim over online harrassment

[GoogleWhacking]

news.sky.com/story/algerian-boxer-imane-khelif-at-centre-of-olympic-gender-row-files-legal-complaint-over-online-harassment-13195264

She could have put this to bed by sharing DNA tests. I'm struggling to feel sympathy, although it must be horrid.

I appreciate the very recent interest shown by people who've previously known nothing about any of the relevant issues but have been quite free with their "reckons".

I applaud the generosity of seasoned FWR posters who've been discussing the relevant issues for 8 years and longers and are so patiently dealing with what seems like voluntary ignorance and faux naivety alongside not-so subtle digs about their tone and 'more in sorrow than in anger' encouragement to #BeKind and recall the tenets of basic decency. As if these haven't been the underpinning of all the posts but FWR posters tend to have the temerity to include other women as those whose dignity they should respect and to whom they should display compassion.

14? Period at 9?
Good god
16 is more like it

They will know themselves whether they have the particular DSD which gives a male advantage or not.

If they do then there is no excuse for not knowing that they are clearly putting female boxers at risk. No excuse for not withdrawing from that particular sport, or fighting in the male category.

I thought Caster Semenya was wrong to keep on competing after they knew they were male but at least they weren't putting female safety at risk.

I'll save my sympathy for the women who had their chance of Olympic glory taken from them by having to get in a ring with someone who is biologically male with all the physical male advantages.

I think if I were representing the two Independent labs involved in the sex tests on these athletes, and our professional integrity and accuracy were being decried, I'd be considering legal action.

I don't think anyone from either athlete's team has said the results are wrong. Both athletes accepted the results and subsequent bans, despite being offered full support to appeal to CAS.

I'm pretty sure that implies these 2 are indeed XY individuals, both have been through male puberty and neither should ever be eligible for XX events.

I'm not sure who Khelif is thinking of suing, nor why (seems deeply stupid to me) but if it goes ahead, I guess they'll have to prove, via tests, that the "they're XY" statements are false.

I'd like to see that.

It does make me question why it's important now but not important enough to appeal 2 years ago. Is there money riding on it? Sponsorship? Ad revenue? Or just a thwarted XY athlete not receiving the adulation the XY athlete feels is the XY athlete's due? A hissy fit, in other words.

No one deserves to go through this kind of public trial. The focus should be on supporting her as a person, respecting her identity, and recognizing the hard work and dedication she’s put into her sport.

No. All my sympathy is for the women who had to fight males and be gaslighted and humiliated about it into the bargain.

I imagine the line will be that Khelif was fully eligible to compete, not that Khelif has XY chromosomes.

Do you have a link for the interview with the coach, please?

Yes. This.

Exactly.

And I think Caster Semenya continuing to compete and being supported to compete by their national team shows up differences in attitudes to fairness in women's sport and women in general. Both on national and international levels.

We don't talk about the cultural difference between why we'd think that was unacceptable in the UK but other countries think it's fine.

Why?

Why do we only focus on how it's unfair to these individual athletes and not how it's unfair to all the women who didn't get a medal or a place in the final.

We know Caster Semenya's name. There's financial opportunities from that.

I had to make a bit of an effort to find the names of the women who came 4th, 5th and 6th in Rio. I didn't know them off the top of my head. I would probably know Lyndsey Sharp's name if Semenya hadn't been there. Melissa Bishop and Joanna Jozwik not so much because they aren't British, but it still has affected them massively.

And we haven't talked about the abuse and harassment all the women who have raised concerns about fairness of women's sport. What about them?

Khekif brought this upon himself by choosing to compete in the world's most publicised sports event despite knowing that he is male.

Or is it merely hot air for publicly and no court case will emerge?

All I can smell is financial grift from this.

The focus should be on supporting her as a person, respecting her identity, and recognizing the hard work and dedication she’s put into her sport. It’s a reminder of the importance of empathy and kindness, especially in situations where we might not fully understand someone else’s experience.

Why is all of the focus and sympathy on Khelif and none on the women who are losing out on opportunities because of men or having their safety compromised because of men choosing to enter their sport?

Or is it merely hot air for publicly and no court case will emerge?

My assumption.

Indeed.

They knew there was a question after the ban. A ban that wasn't contested.

And then they entered the Olympics knowing that was hanging over them as a question mark and did nothing to resolve that question mark.

Maybe also to try to force media and social media to lay off criticism.

Good point.

What a mess.

Another good point.

Yet it looks to me that the women's tears and objections resulted in forced public apologies.

One rule for thee, another for me.....

It would be horrible. We can all feel compassion for someone in those circumstances.

Do you think that women’s prizes, accolades and in this case safety are appropriate to give away to such a person to make up for the distress of that discovery? This is what you appear to be arguing. It’s a terrible thing for someone to find out they’re not the sex they thought they were, so we should all pretend it hasn’t happened and let them play.

Are you talking about the Italian boxer who trained and knew imane personally from a young age.

She embaressed her publicly on stage, probably out of jealousy and to take advantage of the ongoing media campaign against imane.

Yep, it was rather traumatic for me at the time as I’d not had ‘the talk’ and thought I needed the doctor, but is considered average according to most GPs now.

It’s considered late if not started by 15, but will be investigated earlier if there are no other signs of female puberty (breast buds for example).

It seems like some of the IBA material inadvertently disclosed his email address. Though I only heard that from a couple of sources, so may not be correct.

It did, I saw it. So Khelif may have a case against the IBA for that, I think fair enough.

Yes, it’s meant to be a contest of technical and athletic ability between two people matched for biological sex and weight; not a pity contest.

@CautiousLurker I had what would border on precocious puberty too, luckily my mum was always open on body stuff so it wasn't as worrying for me

I'm now late thirties and heading into menopause, so it has its bonuses 🤣

You mean the woman who was punched in the nose and felt she couldn't breathe? The one who knew that Khelif was very likely male and felt that she had lost because the IOC would not guarantee either a safe or a fair fight because the IOC prioritises inclusion above fairness?

That woman?