In a recent display of solidarity and advocacy, WNBA star Brittney Griner has voiced strong support for Imane Khelif. Griner’s statement, “Having XY chromosomes doesn’t mean we’re male,” underscores a crucial point in the ongoing dialogue about gender identity and recognition. “Not everyone is educated. I bet they never win in their life”, WNBA star added.

Olympic Gold Medalist Boxer Imane Khelif Files Online Harassment Complaint After Gender Controversy

Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who won the Olympic gold medal in the women’s boxing 66-kilogram division, has filed a complaint over online harassment in Paris.

During her run at the Olympics, the 25-year-old athlete was bullied on social media after one of her opponents, Italian boxer Angela Carini, abandoned the quarter-final match 46 seconds into its start and declared she “never felt a punch like this.” Khelif was disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) from last year’s Women’s World Championships after she failed a gender eligibility test due to elevated levels of testosterone in her system, but was born female and does not identify as transgender or intersex.

However, prominent influencers such as Logan Paul falsely claimed that Khelif was a man (Paul later retracted his statement), while other controversial figures like J.K. Rowling, Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni blamed the Olympics for allowing Khelif to compete in the women’s boxing competition.

Shortly after her victory over China’s Yang Liu on Friday, Khelif filed the complaint to the national center for combating online hate which is part of Paris correctional court, her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, confirmed to Variety. The Paris Prosecutor’s Office, which has yet to receive the complaint, is expected to proceed to an investigation.

Boudi told French newspaper Le Monde that Khelif had been victim of online bullying and “speculation fueled by malicious individuals” and pointed out “these messages were posted by important political figures” and “exceeded 100 million views” in some cases.

Khelif opened up about the ordeal during an interview with SNTV, a media outlet affiliated with the Associated Press, and said that her family was worried about her. “I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects,” she said.

Khelif said bullying “can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.” She also thanked the Olympic Committee for doing her “justice.”

Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Commitee, has questioned the legitimacy of these claims and the genetic test that disqualified Khelif last year, suggesting that the controversy over her gender had been orchestrated by the IBA. The organization is led by Russian oligarchs and has been banned from the Olympics since June 2023 due to its ties to the Kremlin.

Khelif is one of several people involved in these Olympics to have filed a complaint over online bullying. Opening and closing ceremony artistic director Thomas Jolly, executive director Thierry Reboul, DJ Barbara Butch and famed drag queen Nicky Doll have also filed complaints.

In a stunning twist, SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM declares, “I am SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM and I refuse to return to the WNBA because Brittney Griner is not worthy of being my opponent.”

The world of women’s basketball is no stranger to heated rivalries and passionate debates, but nothing could have prepared fans, players, or league officials for the firestorm ignited by Sophie Cunningham’s latest public declaration. In a move that has sent shockwaves through the sports world and beyond, the WNBA star announced, “I am SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM and I refuse to return to the WNBA because Brittney Griner is not worthy of being my opponent.” With those words, Cunningham not only targeted one of the league’s most prominent figures, Brittney Griner, but also took aim at the WNBA’s evolving approach to inclusion and identity.

What followed was a media frenzy, a social media uproar, and a raw, unfiltered debate about fairness, gender, and the future of women’s basketball. Here is the inside story behind the headline that has everyone talking.

The Statement That Shook the League

It started, as so many modern controversies do, with a single, dramatic video posted to Cunningham’s social media. Sitting in a dimly lit room, her face set and voice unwavering, Cunningham delivered her message to millions of followers.

“I’ve given everything to this league,” she began. “I’ve played my heart out, night after night, representing my team, my city, and the game I love. But I can’t stand by while the WNBA pursues a ‘woke’ agenda that puts inclusion above competition, and allows people like Brittney Griner—who, in my opinion, does not embody what women’s basketball should be—to dominate the court. I am Sophie Cunningham, and I refuse to return until real changes are made.”

Within minutes, the clip went viral, drawing both praise and condemnation from every corner of the sports world.

Brittney Griner: At the Center of the Storm

Brittney Griner, a towering presence both on and off the court, has long been a lightning rod for controversy. As one of the WNBA’s most recognizable stars, Griner’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and her outspoken stance on social issues have made her a hero to some and a target to others. Her recent return to the league after a harrowing detainment overseas had already put her in the national spotlight.

But Cunningham’s comments went beyond basketball. By questioning Griner’s worthiness as an opponent—and, by extension, her place in the league—Cunningham touched a nerve that runs deep through the world of sports: the question of who gets to play, and what it means to be a woman in women’s athletics.

The WNBA’s Response: A League at a Crossroads

The WNBA, for its part, wasted no time responding to the controversy. In an official statement, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert reaffirmed the WNBA’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, and respect for all athletes.

“The WNBA stands firmly behind every one of our players,” the statement read. “We celebrate the diversity of our league and the strength that comes from our differences. There is no place in our game for exclusion or discrimination.”

Yet, behind closed doors, league officials were reportedly scrambling to contain the fallout. Sponsors began to ask questions. Players’ union representatives demanded meetings. Fans flooded social media with calls for both punishment and support.