UFC veteran slams people who "pretend" Imane Khelif and Lin Yu Ting are women: "Both failed sex and testosterone test"
After Imane Khelif and Lin-Yu Ting earned gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, most people acknowledged their accomplishments given their unique circumstances. Former UFC title challenger Jake Shields, however, was not included in that group.
Instead, Shields criticized Khelif and Ting, calling them "men" who "competed in women's boxing." Shields claimed that people congratulating the gold medalists "are in complete denial" of what he believes is the truth.
Shields tweeted:
"Two men competed in the women's boxing at the Olympics. Both failed sex and testosterone tests. Both took gold without losing a single round. Many people are in complete denial and will continue to pretend these are women."
Shields has become known for his controversial opinions on social media, often getting involved in international political events.
Since retiring from MMA after getting knocked out by Ray Cooper III in 2018, Shields has fully transitioned to coaching and trains a select group of fighters at Xtreme Couture. The 45-year-old serves as a grappling coach, teaching what he calls "American jiu-jitsu."
Imane Khelif and Lin-Yu Ting gender controversy
Jake Shields' claim that Imane Khelif and Lin-Yu Ting are "men" is based on the social media rumor that spread at the beginning of the Olympics when fans discovered that Khelif and Ting failed a gender eligibility test in 2023. Both fighters were found to have XY chromosomes that typically indicate male DNA, causing many to inaccurately believe that both were born as biological males.
Instead, as the International Olympic Committee stated, both Khelif and Ting are biological females. The IOC dismissed the International Boxing Association's ruling, calling the tests "flawed."
In a public statement, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said the incident shows the sport of boxing "needs a new federation to run boxing."
It remains unclear what Khelif and Ting plan to do with their future careers or what will happen with their eligibility.