In the women’s 66 kg boxing final at the Paris Olympics, Algerian athlete Imane Khelif defeated China’s Yang Liu to win the gold medal. However, Khelif’s gender has been a controversial topic during the Olympics.
According to a recent report by French journalist Diaffer Ait Aoudia from Le Correspondent, Khelif is not a traditional female.
The journalist obtained Khelif’s medical records, which French and Algerian hospitals created in June 2023, with experts Soumaya Fedala and Jacques Young drafting them.
The report shows that Khelif suffers from 5-alpha reductase deficiency, a genetic condition that leads to developmental issues with testosterone and other male characteristics. Experts say this condition only affects men, and not women, and it prevents normal development of sexual organs.
Pelvic MRI scans show that Khelif does not have a uterus or ovaries and has undescended testes and a micropenis in the groin area. Genetic tests confirm that Khelif has XY chromosomes, which are typically male, and no significant genetic imbalances were found. Additionally, Khelif’s hormone tests show a testosterone level of 14.7, far higher than the normal female level.
“Everyone already knows the news. The IOC has violated all sports rules by allowing a man to compete against a woman,”
Kremlev stated, demanding that Bach acknowledge the harm done to female athletes.
Many well-known figures in the sports world also oppose Khelif competing in women’s events. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova openly criticized Khelif’s participation, saying:
“Imane might have been raised as a woman, but Imane is a biological male and should not have been allowed to box at the Olympics.”
Despite the criticism, Khelif insists she is a woman. She stated:
“I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman, I lived as a woman, and I competed as a woman—there’s no doubt about that.”
The debate over gender in sports is likely to continue.
