Amir Khan comments on Asian athletes eating curry ‘triggered’ former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq | UK News

Former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq said he was “triggered” by comments about Asian athletes made by boxer Amir Khan this week.

The former welterweight champion said on Monday that Asian athletes use racism as an excuse when they don’t have a good record and that eating curry is “not the diet”. fit to be a champion”.

Azeem Rafiq, who was found to be a victim of “racial harassment and bullying” at the Yorkshire Country Cricket Club, told Sky News: “Khan’s comments reinforce the lazy stereotype of Asian athletes when there is clear data to disprove it.”

Cricketers’ allegations of institutional racism in Yorkshire have led to government intervention, several resignations on the county board and Ban the club from organizing the Check.

“It’s especially sad because it comes from someone who has inspired an entire community to get into sport,” said Rafiq, 31.

“And to be honest, it triggered me. I suffer every day and I find life incredibly difficult as someone who has suffered abuse. And according to Amir Khan, I’m just making excuses. “

Khan, 35, won a silver medal at the age of 17 in the 2004 Olympics and held the weight division titles from 2009 to 2012.

Since then, he has lived the celebrity lifestyle, appearing on the TV series I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and At Home With The Khans.

At a press conference to mark his retirement On Monday, Khan said in comments reported in The Guardian: “People often say: ‘We’re Muslims, we’re Asian, we can’t get past boxing. We will not be selected.” That’s an excuse all Asians use – that we’ll never get picked. “

He continued: “For example, look at football. There are no Asian players but guess what they say? ‘We won’t be selected because we are Asian.’ I think it’s a bull load ****, really. It’s a load of b ******* Asians, when we can’t be to a certain extent, Let’s give up. We don’t have it in us.

“Look, we Asians don’t really want to be boxers. We’re not supposed to be good athletes and women. Our diets are horrible. It’s curry. It’s not must be the right diet to be a champion. If you put us against a lot of British boxers, their diet is so much better. They’re stronger than us.”

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Equality groups described Khan’s comments as “confusing”.

Sporting Equals chief executive Arun Kang said: “The sport sector has been working to become anti-racism, progress is underway but there is still a long way to go towards eradicating racism. systematic race.

“It is confusing and deeply frustrating that Amir has now reinforced the stereotypes that the British community in South Asia has long struggled to reduce.

“Such misinformed and misleading remarks have caused greater harm to the community.”

In May, Crawley FC terminated coach John Yems’ contract after he was accused of repeatedly using racist insults and separating locker rooms along the track in a stadium. has been described as “modern day racism”.

Khan declined to comment.