Olympic medalist withdraws from French boxing election, citing racist and sexist attacks

PARIS (AP) — 2016 Olympic silver medalist Sarah Ourahmoune has withdrawn her bid to become president of the French boxing federation, saying she was the target of racist and sexist attacks.

In an open letter published this week, Ourahmoune said he found himself on the receiving end of insults beyond anything he could have imagined in the run-up to next month’s election.

“Words like ‘token Arab’, ‘cleaning lady of the federation’ or even ‘(challenge) of…'” she wrote on social media. “Not to mention anonymous messages of unprecedented and deeply shocking violence.”

Ourahmoune had campaigned on a joint bid with the current president, Dominique Nato.

Another female boxer, 2016 Olympic lightweight champion Estelle Mossely, is also in the running.

“I never thought that I would be attacked like this because of my origins or simply because I am a woman,” Ourahmoune said.

“My decision to resign has cost me enormously because it seems to contradict everything I stand for every day: courage, resilience, the ability to fight in hostile environments, to push back the limits of what is possible and to defend. equality, diversity and gender balance.”

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