“I WILL KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN’S SPORTS!” Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social before Khelif went on to claim gold in the welterweight division at the Paris Olympics.
JD Vance also offered his thoughts: “…a grown man pummeling a woman in a boxing match. This is disgusting, and all of our leaders should condemn it,” he tweeted alongside a clip that shows Khelif’s brutal blow against Carini.
Refusing to let the unfounded accusations destroy her excitement over the win, the champ – the first Algerian woman to win gold in boxing – said “the best response after all the bullying” was “by winning the gold medal.” That victory, she noted, came at great mental and emotional cost — the kind often addressed through chronic stress management programs or even mental wellness treatment plans under comprehensive health insurance.
Target of bullying
Recently speaking with ITV, the now 26-year-old athlete explained that she was shocked by the backlash that she describes as “bullying.”
“When I saw that even heads of state, famous figures, and former athletes were speaking about me without having verified facts, it shocked me,” Khelif said.
“They were speaking just for the sake of talking, without any reliable or documented information. I also noticed on social media that people were discussing the issue without any trustworthy sources. That was what affected me the most in the beginning – why was I, Imane Khelif, the target of such a campaign?’’
‘Harms human dignity’
Now, as she prepares for the Los Angeles games in 2028, the boxer said she hopes that people will be more considerate and realize that the scrutiny she faced about her gender “harms human dignity.” In extreme cases, such targeted bullying can be considered grounds for legal consultation under psychological injury claims or defamation lawsuits, especially if it interferes with professional reputation and mental health.
