Europe Россия Внешние малые острова США Китай Объединённые Арабские Эмираты Корея Индия

Riley Gaines slams Kamala Harris over Imane Khelif Olympic boxing controversy as she reveals why backing VP is 'vote against your daughter's future'

1 month ago 20

By Oliver Salt

Published: 14:57 BST, 2 August 2024 | Updated: 14:57 BST, 2 August 2024

Riley Gaines has blasted Kamala Harris for staying silent over the Olympic boxing gender row, claiming the current Vice President represents a 'vote against your daughter's future'.

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is at the center of fierce controversy this summer after being cleared to compete in the women's category at the Paris Olympics despite question marks over her gender.

Khelif, who is a biological female, was thrown out of last year's world championships after allegedly failing tests which proved she has male 'XY chromosomes'.


Her participation in Paris has therefore sparked outrage, with Gaines and a number of high-profile figures fuming over the decision to allow her to compete.

Ahead of her expected Democratic nomination for President, Harris is yet to weigh in on the gender controversy surrounding Khelif at this summer's Olympics.

Riley Gaines (left) has blasted Kamala Harris for her silence on the Olympic boxing gender row

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif (left) is at the center of fierce controversy after being cleared to compete in the women's category at the Olympics despite question marks over her gender

And Gaines believes this radio silence from the potential next President of America is a worrying sign.

'Crickets from Kamala, crickets from the women at "The View." And if I could implore you, a vote for Kamala is a vote against your daughter’s future,' the former American swimmer, who previously competed against transgender athlete Lia Thomas, said on Fox News' 'Jesse Waters Primetime' show.

'I see lots of people on social media saying they’ll be voting for Kamala because she is a woman. Well, let me tell you, Jesse, I will be voting for Trump because I am a woman.'

To fuel even further outrage, Khelif completely dominated Italy's Angela Carini in her short-lived Olympics opener on Thursday; forcing her female opponent to abandon the bout after just 46 seconds.

Carini was punched twice in the opening round of their women's welterweight bout in Paris, with the blows even appearing to knock off her chin strap before she returned to the center of the ring and forfeited the bout.

Potential Presidential candidate Harris is yet to speak out on the Olympics gender debate

Gaines says it shows that supporting the VP is 'a vote against your daughter's future'

Khelif completely dominated Angela Carini in her short-lived Olympics opener, forcing the Italian to quit after 46 seconds

The Italian boxer, who claimed before the fight that she could 'only adapt to the rules of the Olympics', was then seen crying in the ring as her defeat was confirmed.

On Thursday, Gaines shared a clip of Khelif battering Carini into submission on X and wrote alongside it: 'Call me crazy, but It's almost as if women don't want to be punched in the face by a male as the world watches and applauds. 

'This is glorified male violence against women.'

As well as Khelif, Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting has also been allowed to compete at the Olympics despite being disqualified from last year's world championships for failing the same tests.

Olympic bosses dramatically doubled down on their decision to allow both boxers to compete in Paris on Thursday.

Carini was seen crying in the ring after her one-sided defeat at the hands of Khelif

'They (Khelif and Yu-ting) were suddenly disqualified without any due process,' the 557-word statement read before adding that, in line with previous Olympics, 'the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport'.

'Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination,' the IOC said, before highlighting that its rules were based on the rules the IBA had in place before its forced withdrawal in 2023.

It also attacked 'misleading information about two female athletes', adding that the pair 'have been competing in international boxing competitions for many years in the women's category.'

Read Entire Article