Strictly star apologises for spreading Imane Khelif ‘misinformation’

A former Strictly Come Dancing star has issued an apology after weighing into the controversy surrounding Olympic boxer Imane Khelif.

Over the past few days, the Algerian boxer has come under fire after her Italian opponent Angela Carini threw in the towel after less than a minute in their Olympic games match, explaining she’d ‘never been hit so hard’ in her life.

Carini’s reaction, combined with Khelif’s disqualification from last year’s women’s World Championships, has reignited the often toxic row around who should be able to compete in women’s sports.

Since then, several public figures have shared their thoughts on what unfolded, with Les Dennis doing so but then backtracking.

The former Family Fortunes presenter, 70, shared a post on X, as well as reposting one that said the International Olympics Committee should be ‘hanging its head in shame’ after alleging allowing Imane to compete was ‘dangerous and profoundly unfair on women and girls’.

Later following up his posts, Les, who also appeared on Strictly last year, issued an apology, which came after many rushed to defend the boxer and the storm she’d found herself at the centre of.

‘I apologise for my post re the women’s boxing at the Olympics. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in misinformation,’ his post read.

‘I’ll make sure I have the facts before I tweet in future.’

His apology was welcomed by many after the initial backlash.

‘Didn’t see it Les, but if everyone on here had the balls to apologise and admit an error when they have posted misinformation we would be where we are…fair play,’ user Clifford commented.

‘If more people apologised the world would be a better place,’ Mike shared.

‘Unprecedented. Someone apologising for spreading misinformation on X. Well played, Les, takes a certain strength of character to do this,’ Sam added.

However, some were still frustrated by his initial actions.

‘You’re old enough to know better. It’s truly embarrassing that you did no ounce of research before spreading hatred and misinformation,’ Zack wrote.

Last year the IBA said Imane and another boxer Lin Yu-ting did not meet the ‘required eligibility criteria’ for the female category, later claiming the pair were found to have XY chromosomes.

However, the IOC has accused the IBA of disqualifying the pair based on an ‘arbitrary decision’ with ‘no due process’, suggesting no scientific tests were carried out as part of the decision.

The IOC has slammed the ‘current aggression’ being directed at the two athletes, adding it was ‘saddened by the abuse they are currently receiving’.

‘Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination,’ it added.

Imane does not identify as either transgender or intersex.

She is scheduled to continue her Olympian campaign in Paris with a fight today, with a win guaranteeing her a bronze medal.

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