SA MP Ian Cameron Joins Gender Bashing of Olympic Boxer Imane Khelif
Imane Khelif (Photo: Algeria Press Service) and DA MP Ian Cameron (Photo: Twitter)
Vocal South African MP Ian Cameron has unapologetically joined the chorus of abuse and misinformation against Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, who has been falsely labelled a man.
Khelif became the subject of attacks on social media after her Paris Olympics competitor, Italian Angela Carini, quit their boxing match in tears after just 46 seconds. Carini said she had never been hit so hard before and complained that “it’s not right.”
The claim that Khelif was born biologically male and is transgender quickly began to circulate online, with social media users asserting that “a man” was being allowed to assault a woman, fuelling anti-trans rhetoric.
Transphobic author JK Rowling described the match as “a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment.” Rowling labelled Khelif a “bullying cheat,” insisting that “this isn’t sport…this is men revelling in their power over women.”
Donald Trump responded by asserting on Truth Social that “I will keep men out of women’s sports!” while his running mate, JD Vance, tweeted: “This is where Kamala Harris’s ideas about gender lead: to a grown man pummelling a woman in a boxing match. This is disgusting, and all of our leaders should condemn it.”
The DA’s Cameron, who is Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, shared various tweets attacking Khelif and then expressed his own misinformed view, writing: “The #Paris2024 Olympics literally advocating for biological men to beat biological women. In a world where this kind of violence is a massive crisis, they have the audacity to celebrate it. Shame on you!”
However, Khelif is neither transgender nor a man. Although she did not meet a gender eligibility criterion of the International Boxing Association (IBA) last year, possibly due to higher testosterone levels (the reasons have not been disclosed), Khelif is a woman.
In a statement, the IOC slammed the “misleading information” about two female athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (referring both to Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting).
It said that “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.”
The IOC acknowledged the IBA’s disqualification of Khelif in 2023 but criticised the move, asserting: “The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years.”
The Algeria Olympic Committee condemned what it described as “unethical targeting and maligning of our esteemed athlete, Imane Khelif, with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.”
To be clear, just like South African Olympian Caster Semenya, any possible biological advantages that Khelif may have are ones she was naturally born with. It’s also worth noting that Khelif has been bested numerous times by other women boxers in her career.
The furore is indicative of the hysterical, hateful, and extreme views of the anti-gender movement, which is not only set on policing transgender and intersex individuals but now also seeks to attack any woman who might not fit into strict and limited definitions of what it means to be a woman.
The #Paris2024 Olympics literally advocating for biological men to beat biological women. In a world where this kind of violence is a massive crisis, they have the audacity to celebrate it. Shame on you! #Carini #IStandWithCarini pic.twitter.com/SkuoR7E2Nu
— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) August 1, 2024
Highly irresponsible for an MP and a Committee Chair to be spreading disinformation. She is a biological female and not transgender. Do you believe Caster is also not female because of “elevated levels” of testosterone? Delete this. It’s a lie & generally quite gross. https://t.co/57Jwwkne9A
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) August 2, 2024
Well this will always be problematic. As I understand Khelif is born with xy Chromosomes.
According to Biology there is only Female xx and Male xy, no matter the sex organ. Male chromosomes do make you stronger naturally. Muscle, Bone density, height etc.
I understand that this is a sensitive subject, and it is not Caster, Khelif or any other person’s fault.
But it do create a problem. 99% of Woman have a certain anatomy, structure, muscle, bone density, height, strength, stamina etc. It is unfortunately unfair toward those 99% Woman who worked very hard in sport, and only to be beaten by a person with xy chromosomes who has the advantage -biology dictates it.
I think it is high time that a category in sports should be introduced for intersex, and person with extraordinary testosterone levels. – Medication is not going to fix it.
Agreed 100% well said