Imane Khelif Faces Backlash Over Gender Allegations

Imane Khelif faces new calls to be stripped of her Olympic gold medal after a leaked report alleged that she is a “biological male.” Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting faced controversy at the Olympics. Both received clearance to compete despite failing gender eligibility tests at the World Championships the previous year. Despite the criticism, Khelif won gold in the women’s boxing event and IOC President Thomas Bach defended her participation.

The controversy reignited after an unverified report, first reported by Bild, claimed that Khelif possesses male characteristics. The report, allegedly compiled by French and Algerian endocrinologists has not been confirmed but it has attracted significant attention. British TV personality Piers Morgan criticized the IOC’s decision to allow Khelif to compete and demanded that the organization revoke her gold medal, urging them to award it to “the best actual woman.”

Tennis icon Martina Navratilova supported the calls to strip Khelif of her medal, arguing that her victory deprived real women of opportunities. Sports presenter Laura Woods echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for fairness and safety for women in sport. She stated that transgender inclusion should not come at the expense of these principles.

Imane Khelif, who defeated China’s Yang Liu to win gold, strongly denied the allegations, asserting that she is a biological female. She said, “I was born a woman, I live as a woman, and I compete as a woman.” The boxer also filed a lawsuit in France against online critics who questioned her gender.

The controversy surrounding Khelif’s gender has sparked widespread debate. Public figures such as J.K. Rowling, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have voiced their opinions on social media.