Irish boxer who previously beat Imane Khelif speaks out after Olympic’s controversy

SportsJOE

Amy Broadhurst has publicly defended Algerian boxer Imane Khelif following her controversial victory over Angela Carini at the Olympic Games.

The five-time European Champion took to social media to express her opinion on the much-talked about fighter, and dismissed accusations that her former opponent is a ‘cheat’.

The Dundalk native beat Khelif in the gold match at the World Championships in 2022, and posted the following on X before the Carini bout.

“Have a lot of people texting me over Imane Khelif. Personally I don’t think she has done anything to ‘cheat’,” she said.

“I think it’s the way she was born and that’s out of her control. The fact that she has been beaten by 9 females before says it all.”

Following the bout, she shared a clip of her victory over Khelif and wrote: “Thoughts after watching this?”

Have a lot of people texting me over Imane Khelif. Personally I don’t think she has done anything to ‘cheat’. I thinks it’s the way she was born & that’s out of her control. The fact that she has been beating by 9 females before says it all.
— Amy Broadhurst (@amybroadhurst12) July 31, 2024

Broadhurst took to social media again this morning to ask her followers to refrain from directing any more hate towards the competitor.

Please 🙏 the hate has been ridiculous 😔 pic.twitter.com/ANxf0gC5ks
— Amy Broadhurst (@amybroadhurst12) August 2, 2024

Italy’s Angela Carini left the ring after just 46 seconds yesterday with a suspected broken nose following a right hook from Khelif.

The Algerian failed a gender test at last year’s world championships.

Khelif was banned from competing in a gold medal match in Delhi by the International Boxing Association after failing an eligibility test but has been permitted to fight at these Olympics.

Prior to the fight, the Algerian Olympic Committee condemned the attacks on their boxer as they issued a statement on the matter.

World champion 2022 🌎🥇 a dream come thru!! pic.twitter.com/IR4aizXP8X
— Amy Broadhurst (@amybroadhurst12) May 19, 2022

The Algeria Olympic Committee (COA) said: “COA strongly condemns the unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.

“Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics. The COA has taken all necessary measures to protect our champion.”

Carini took a punch to the face and immediately walked to her corner and signalled she would not carry on, refusing to shake the hand of her opponent.

In the mixed zone following the fight Carini said she had come here to ‘honour her father’ but had ‘never been punched so hard’.

Khelif is one of two boxers competing at the games despite having been disqualified from last year’s Women’s World Championships for failing to meet eligibility criteria.

Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting was stripped of bronze at the championships but has been permitted to fight in the Olympics.

Both boxers competed at the Tokyo games. The IOC defended their decision to allow the pair to fight saying that all boxers in the competition meet eligibility requirements.