Why is Imane Khelif back at the center of controversy once again? All about the viral report claiming the Paris Olympic Champion to be 'male'

By Adityan Pillai

Modified Nov 05, 2024 05:26 GMT

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Paris Olympics gold medalist Imane Khelif is back in the center of controversy once again, months after the conclusion of the quadrennial games. The controversy erupted after a medical report obtained by French journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia went viral on the internet, which claimed that the Algerian boxer had an XY chromosomal karyotype as well as a testosterone level found in males.

The report that recently went viral on the internet was drafted back in June 2023 in a collaborative effort between the Kremlin-Bicêtre Hospital in Paris and the Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Hospital in Algeria. It stated that Khelif had a deficiency of 5-alpha reductase, a sexual development disorder found in genetic males. The deficiency of 5-alpha reductase is a rare disorder that can lead to a change in the appearance of external genitalia.

According to MedlinePlus:

"Many people with 5-alpha reductase deficiency are assigned female at birth based on their external genitalia. In other cases, affected infants are assigned male at birth based on their external genitalia, often an unusually small penis (micropenis) and the urethra opening on the underside of the penis (hypospadias)."

French Journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia, who obtained Imane Khelif's clinical report, stated:

" The clinical report reveals that an MRI determined that Khelif had no uterus, but instead had internal testicles and a “micropenis” resembling an enlarged clitoris. A chromosomal test further confirmed that Khelif has an XY karyotype, while a hormone test found that Khelif had a testosterone level typical of males." (as quoted by reduxx.info)

Furthermore, according to the doctors, Khellif's parents may have been blood relatives, and the conclusion of the report recommends a 'surgical correction'.

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Imane Khelif on receiving hate during the Paris Olympics

Imane Khelif stars in Olympian Portraits From Around The Globe - Olympic Games Paris 2024 - Source: Getty

Imane Khelif was subject to hate campaigns on social media during the Paris Olympics after Italian boxer Angela Carini abandoned the match after the first few exchanges. The Algerian boxer spoke about the huge uproar in the media in an interview with a local channel.

Khelif revealed how it had a huge impact on her performance and said,

“There was a big uproar from big politicians around the world, big athletes around the world, and even artists and stars. Elon Musk, Donald Trump, this thing affected me, I'm not lying to you, it affected me. It affected me a lot, it hurt me a lot. I can't describe to you the amount of fear I had.”

The 25-year-old thanked the people of Algeria for their constant support amid the turmoil.