Left-wing leaders in France have praised Imane Khelif, the gold medal-winning boxer at the centre of a gender identity row, saying they enjoy drinking “fascist tears” over her controversial Olympic victory.
The 25-year-old Algerian won the women's welterweight title on Friday night in Paris by defeating China's Yang Liu.
Ms Khelif was cleared to compete in the Olympics despite failing an International Boxing Federation gender eligibility test.
Her first-round opponent, Italian Angela Carini, gave up after just 46 seconds, saying she had never been hit so hard and retreating to “save her life.”
The details of the test that Ms Khelif allegedly failed have not been made public, but it is alleged that she possesses male XY chromosomes.
The Olympic rules are based on the passport issued to the fighters and the organizers do not conduct gender testing.
Elon Musk, JK Rowling and Donald Trump are among those who have criticized Ms. Khelif's participation, suggesting that she is a man and claiming that she poses a threat to competitors.
'Fascist criticism'
But after her victory, leading members of the French left were quick to praise Khelif for overcoming “fascist criticism”.
Sandrine Rousseau, a Green MP, said: “We tell you, the tears of fascists make you stronger. Well done Imane Khelif.”
Aurélie Trouvé, a member of parliament for the far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI), said: “Bravo to Imane Khelif who has withstood so many vile attacks with great courage. The best response is this gold medal. Strength to her. What a champion.”
Ersilia Soudais, another LFI MP, said: “Keep crying, fascists. I drink your tears.”
Ségolène Royal, the former wife of Francois Hollande, former Socialist president, said: “When a man dominates the competitions, we say he is an exceptional athlete. His hormones are not scrutinized.”
France has responded more cautiously to so-called “woke” culture than Britain, with cross-party concerns about importing politics from American college campuses.
Jean-Michel Blanquer, former education minister under President Emmanuel Macron, founded a think tank to defend France against the “woke” culture.
But France's left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front (NPF), campaigned to allow citizens to easily change their gender at any town hall, a move Macron called “totally grotesque”.
The NPF, of which the LFI is also a member, came first in the elections in July, but failed to obtain the majority needed to implement the policy.
