The Algerian Olympic Committee has submitted an official complaint to the IOC over the treatment of boxer Imane Khelif.
Khelif has been the subject of a horrendous wave of abuse and criticism after defeating Angela Carini in the last 16 of the women's welterweight category at the Paris Games. Carini abandoned the bout after 46 seconds.
Some complained afterwards about the fact Khelif had failed eligibility tests run by the Russia-led International Boxing Association (IBA). The IOC are running the boxing events at this year's Games and cleared Khelif to take part.
But the backlash has continued, with Khelif's next opponent Anna Luca Hamori posting a series of derogatory posts against the Algerian. In an apparent response to those posts, the Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee has made an official complaint to the IOC.
"The Algerian Olympic and Sports Committees conclude to the knowledge of national and international public opinion, that follows the official complaint submitted today by our Olympic body to the International Olympic Committee," they said in a statement.
"Regarding the violation and serious violation of sport ethics and affecting the Olympic Charter, in the person of our champion Iman Khalif, by one of the participants in the boxing tournament for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
"The International Olympic Committee has issued a final apology to violators with an order to delete every post that concerns our heroine Iman Khalif. We reserve the right to prosecute everyone who participated in the heinous campaign against the heroine Iman Khalif. Good luck to our heroine and long live Algeria."
Khelif previously fought at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago without controversy but was barred from female competition in 2023 by the IBA, a federation whose headquarters is in Russia. The decision to exclude them was made during the IBA World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, without transparency.
The Algerian had beaten a Russian opponent en route to the final. Carini has since apologised to Khelif for the storm she caused with her comments after the bout.
“All this controversy makes me sad,” Carini said. “I’m sorry for my opponent, too. … If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision. It wasn’t something I intended to do [ignoring the handshake].
“Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke. I don’t have anything against Khelif. Actually, if I were to meet her again I would embrace her.”
The IOC - together with the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit - sent out a joint statement backing Khelif earlier this week. They said: "Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination.
"All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU)."
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