Riley Gaines accuses Olympic officials of 'glorifying male violence' after Imane Khelif's boxing victory

PARIS, FRANCE: Former swimmer Riley Gaines criticized Olympic officials for allowing Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to compete despite failed gender eligibility tests.

Riley Gaines has voiced strong opposition to Olympic officials, accusing them of "glorifying male violence against women" in light of the recent controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, as reported by The Daily Mail.

Riley Gaines furious over gender row involving Algerian boxer Imane Khelif

Khelif, who was disqualified from last year’s world championships after failing gender eligibility tests, was cleared to compete in the women's welterweight category at the Paris Olympics. In her first Olympic match, Khelif dominated her Italian opponent Angela Carini, forcing Carini to abandon the bout after just 46 seconds.

This has ignited debate on the fairness of permitting athletes with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) to participate in women's events. Athletes with DSD, some of whom are raised as females but possess XY chromosomes and elevated testosterone levels, are currently allowed to compete in women's categories at the Olympics.

The decision to allow Khelif to compete has sparked outrage, with many athletes expressing their discontent. Gaines, a former college swimmer and advocate for maintaining biological gender categories in sports, has been particularly vocal.

The former University of Kentucky swimmer Gaines was a lead plaintiff in a March 2024 lawsuit against the NCAA. The suit alleged that the organization violated the Title IX rights of female athletes by allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to compete in the 2022 women's NCAA swimming championships. In the lawsuit, there were details of the distress experienced by Gaines and other swimmers forced to share locker room facilities with Thomas. Thomas made history as the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division I championship in any sport, defeating three Olympic medalists in the 500-yard freestyle event.

She shared a clip of Khelif’s match on social media, stating, "Call me crazy, but it's almost as if women don't want to be punched in the face by a male as the world watches and applauds. This is glorified male violence against women."

Khelif’s participation in the Olympics, despite her failed gender tests in 2023, has fueled further controversy. The International Boxing Association (IBA) defended their decision, citing a meticulous review process. However, the Italian boxer Carini, who was visibly emotional following her defeat, criticized the rules she was forced to adapt to.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Angela Carini said, “I was told a lot of times that I was a warrior but I preferred to stop for my health. I have never felt a punch like this."

Carini added, “I wish her to carry on until the end and that she can be happy… I am not here to judge or pass judgment. If an athlete is this way, and in that sense it’s not right or it is right, it’s not up to me to decide," Carini said of Khelif despite the controversy, reported The Hollywood Reporter.

The Algerian Olympic Committee has labeled Khelif's prior disqualification a "conspiracy," attributing her high testosterone levels to medical reasons. Despite this, current and former athletes, including three-weight world champion Claressa Shields, have condemned the decision. Shields expressed her heartbreak on social media, lamenting the impact on women’s dreams and careers.

Claressa wrote on X, "So they got men fighting against women in the Olympics boxing ! I wouldn’t have stood for no stuff like that! That is so heartbreaking to the women who have to have their dreams ruined by a man. Sad asf!"

JK Rowling, known for her outspoken views on the transgender movement, commented on the boxing controversy via social media.

“Could any picture sum up our new men’s rights movement better?" she captioned a photo of Khelif smiling at Carini after the match.

She further added, "The smirk of a male who knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered."

Criticizing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its safeguarding measures, Rowling posted, "A young female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because you allowed a male to get in the ring with her.”

Riley Gaines sparks online debate after calling out Imane Khelif

Riley Gaines' outspoken criticism of the decision to allow Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to compete in the women's welterweight category at the Paris Olympics has ignited a firestorm of reactions online.

Gaines, a former college swimmer, accused Olympic officials of "glorifying male violence against women" after Khelif, who had previously failed gender eligibility tests, defeated Italian boxer Angela Carini in a controversial bout. The incident has prompted a wave of social media commentary, with many users expressing their outrage.

One user wrote, "That dude must be really proud after beating the shit out of a woman. What a worthless scumbag loser. How do all you feminists feel about this?"

Another user wrote the sentiment, stating, "The only ones who can stop this are the women themselves by completely refusing to participate in the first place."

The reactions continued with another comment, "She said it was the hardest she’s ever been hit. Obviously correct—she was hit by a guy."

The controversy has also led some viewers to reconsider their support for the Olympics. "This is sickening. I have not watched one second of the Olympics and never will again unless this changes," a user declared.

The criticism was relentless, with comments such as "Disgusting," and "Whoever supports this is pathetic. Totally pathetic. Totally and completely pathetic."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.