Bulgarian boxer Joana Nwamerue has slammed Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, claiming that Khelif exhibited “male power” and “men’s techniques” during a sparring session in Sofia, Bulgaria in the lead up to the Olympics.
Undefeated Nwamerue told independent women’s news website Reddux that, “I can confirm that this is a man to me. Male power. Men’s techniques, everything.”
She told the news outlet she had deep concerns about the fairness and safety of allowing Khelif to compete against women, calling for immediate gender testing, though she doubts it will happen.
“I will stay [by] my words until he/she does a test to prove to the world that he/she is a WOMAN. But we all know that won’t happen,” Nwamerue said.
Nwamerue recounted her experience in the ring with Khelif during a sparring session in Sofia, which took place in February before the annual Strandzha Cup.
Describing the session, she said, “I think we played 3-4 sparring sessions. I have a record of everything. I’m a tomboy, I take a lot of hits and I know how to hold on. But the other girls are not so strong.” Despite not being injured herself, she expressed serious concerns for the safety of other female boxers, saying Khelif’s physical capabilities were far beyond what is typical in women’s boxing.
The controversy deepened when members of the Algerian National Team attempted to justify Khelif’s physical traits, claiming that “living in the mountains” had biologically altered her.
Nwamerue and her coach found this explanation absurd. “Khelif’s teammates came to me and told me ‘Imane is not a man. She is a woman and just lives high in the mountains with her relatives and parents and so there may be a change in her testosterone or chromosomes and the like.’
So myself and my coach watched [Khelif] and I said ‘that can’t be possible.’ Everywhere has people living in the mountains. It’s absurd,” Nwamerue recounted.
Nwamerue argues that athletes like Khelif, whose gender identity is in question, should not be allowed to compete against women until their status is clearly determined.
“If you are not a ‘clear woman,’ if I may say so, then these things remain. You are a woman according to documents and photo, but to me, you are a man. It’s not fair to us women,” she said. Nwamerue called for the establishment of a separate federation for athletes with unresolved gender identity issues, stressing that fairness and safety should be the priority in women’s boxing.
