Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was at the center of Olypic 2024’s biggest controversy after Italy’s 66kg boxer Angela Carini withdrew from the bout in just 46 seconds after being hit by Imane. Imane was called a transgender and ‘biologically male’ raising question over game rules as world leaders denounced allowing a ‘transgender’ to compete with a woman.The IOC dismissed the allegation and said there was no gender issues as the gender and the age of the athletes are based on their passports.
Amid the controversy, French president Emmanuel Macron’s photo with Imane Khelif went viral social media users asking whether Macron was a fan of the Algerian boxer. The photo dates back to 2022, according to the social media posts. Macron and Imane Khelif seem to have a lot of chemistry,” a post that shared the video read adding that Macron in 2022 told Imane that if she reached the final of the Olympics in Paris, he will come to support her.
This is the second photo controversy for Macron in the last few days as he was recently seen kissing his sports minister Amelia Oudea-Castera during the opening ceremony of Paris Olympics. Prime minister Gabriel Attal looked on the other side as Macron and Castera kissed — as seen in the viral photo.
Madame Figaro, the French magazine which first drew attention to the photo, called it a “curious kiss” and pointed out that the minister “certainly knows how to get people talking about her”.
Amid the controversy, French president Emmanuel Macron’s photo with Imane Khelif went viral social media users asking whether Macron was a fan of the Algerian boxer. The photo dates back to 2022, according to the social media posts. Macron and Imane Khelif seem to have a lot of chemistry,” a post that shared the video read adding that Macron in 2022 told Imane that if she reached the final of the Olympics in Paris, he will come to support her.
This is the second photo controversy for Macron in the last few days as he was recently seen kissing his sports minister Amelia Oudea-Castera during the opening ceremony of Paris Olympics. Prime minister Gabriel Attal looked on the other side as Macron and Castera kissed — as seen in the viral photo.
Madame Figaro, the French magazine which first drew attention to the photo, called it a “curious kiss” and pointed out that the minister “certainly knows how to get people talking about her”.
As the photo was everywhere on social media, not everyone appreciated the passionate moment. “I find this photo indecent, it’s not worthy of a president and a minister,” a comment read. One user pointed out that the minister was kissing the athletes in a similar fashion and that there might not be anything much to read into her kiss with Macron.
Imane Khelif gender row
Former US president Donald Trump, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Author JK Rowling expressed their disapproval of allowing ‘transgenders’ in women’s competition. But IOC clarified that there was no gender issue. Khelif was assigned female gender at birth and it says so on her passport.
