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Everyone is writing that a gonioscope was found on the 2024 Olympic champion. Was she really a man?
The gender scandal surrounding Algerian boxer Iman Kelif, the 2024 Olympic champion, has taken a new turn. The French newspaper Le Correspondant published an article with the athlete's medical parameters, who allegedly confirmed that he is a man.
Most of Khelif's medical data in the article is taken from the author, Jaffar Ait Audia, without any evidence that would support such a study. The only thing I have is a screenshot of the medical report, which states that Iman has a speculum and testicles, but no uterus. Additionally, according to the document, the Algerian suffers from 5-alpha-reductase deficiency type 2. This is a birth defect that affects sexual development. Children born with 5-alpha-reductase deficiency are biologically female at birth, but are genetically more similar to males.
Khelifa has previously been accused of having a male Y chromosome, meaning that female athletes cannot compete in women's events. However, simply having a Y chromosome does not make the carrier a man or provide any physical advantage. The initial advantage over opponents only comes with elevated testosterone levels. If levels are elevated, athletes may be offered testosterone-lowering treatment at the discretion of competition organizers. This is what happened to two-time Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya.
In 2023, Kelif was disqualified before the World Championship final. It was based on a test that revealed a male Y chromosome in the athlete’s genotype. However, gender testing for the XY chromosome was abolished in sports in the 1990s. Eligibility criteria for women’s competitions include testing only for testosterone levels. The World Championships were held under the auspices of the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Khelif's hormonal tests, mentioned in the Le Correspondant article, showed that he had high testosterone levels. The level is said to be almost five times higher than the maximum for women, which is 14.7 nmol/l versus 3 nmol/l. Despite these circumstances and the disqualification from the IBA, Khelif was able to compete in the 2024 Olympics. According to the Le Correspondant article, Khelif's participation in the Olympics was due to his high-level connections: Mustapha Berraf, an Algerian IOC member and friend of Thomas Bach. The Algerian went to Paris and won gold in the 66 kg category.
The debate over Khelifa’s gender identity continued during the Olympics. The athlete was harshly criticized by rival players and some sports leaders. For this reason, Reem Alsalem, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, expressed concern about Khelifa’s participation in the Olympics. In his opinion, it put the physical health of other athletes at risk.
However, according to GLAAD and InterACT, Khelif is a woman who is not transgender and does not identify as intersex. He suffers from a disorder of sexual development (DSD). This means that you can be born a woman but still have XY chromosomes. According to the UN, the proportion of such people on Earth reaches 1.7%. It has been noted that women with XY chromosomes can live full lives and even have children.
Another scandal involving Khelif has forced the sports world to question how fair his Olympic victory was. Renowned British journalist Piers Morgan has called for the Algerian athlete to be stripped of his gold medal. Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, agrees.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its president Thomas Bach have not yet commented on the situation. Their decision will determine whether Khelif will retain her gold medal at the Paris Olympics or lose it. Iman's sporting future also remains in question. Will he be able to take part in the next major international tournament?