Imane Khelif - the Algerian Olympic gold medalist - has once again found herself at the center of controversy.
The boxer first made headlines during the Paris Summer Olympic Games in August, when Khelif's rapid defeat of Angela Carini - who left the ring in tears after a brief 46-second match due to a severely injured nose - raised eyebrows from some viewers.
At the time, social media users - including high-profile stars like Logan Paul and J.K. Rowling - speculated on Khelif's gender and repeatedly spread false claims about the athlete.
The fallout from the Games led Khelif to take legal action against those who publicly commented on her gender during the Olympics on social media.
Following her gold medal win, Khalif told the world: "I am fully qualified to take part in this competition – I am a woman. I was born a woman, I’ve lived as a woman and I’ve competed as a woman.
"There’s no doubt that there are enemies of success and that gives my success a special taste because of these attacks."
Now, Khalif is preparing to fight yet another legal battle following reports of intrusive leaks of her medical records, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Per News.com.au, French media outlets ignited controversy by claiming that 25-year-old Khelif possesses XY chromosomes, prompting widespread debate and comments from figures as prominent as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and author JK Rowling.
The leaked report was allegedly first seen by French magazine Le Correspondant, per BBC News - however, as of this writing, the magazine's claims remain unverified by the BBC.
The IOC, refraining from commenting on the ongoing legal matters or the authenticity of the leaked documents, highlighted Khelif's longstanding participation in women’s international boxing. She has been competing in the women's category at major events for years, including the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and various International Boxing Association (IBA) world championships.
“We understand that Imane Khelif has taken legal action against individuals who commented on her situation during the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and is also preparing a lawsuit in response to the latest reporting,” the IOC said in its statement.
"The IOC will not comment while legal action is ongoing, or on media reports about unverified documents whose origin cannot be confirmed."
Per The Guardian, the IOC statement added: “All the athletes who participated in the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 complied with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, together with all the applicable medical regulations enacted by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU).
"As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes were based on their passport details."
"The IOC is committed to protecting the human rights of all athletes who have taken part in the Olympic Games as per the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics and the IOC Strategic Framework on Human Rights," the statement continnued. "The IOC is saddened by the abuse that Imane Khelif is currently receiving."
The Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) has criticized the "ongoing and baseless attacks" on Khelif.
In a statement of their own, they told DW: "These attacks, often based on unsubstantiated allegations, aim to tarnish the image of an athlete who has brought honor to our nation on the international stage.
"We firmly condemn these attempts at destabilization, which have no place in the world of sports."
Amidst this personal challenge for Khelif, the boxing world is facing its own upheaval.
France recently withdrew from the IBA, citing a need to secure a stable future for French boxing in the Olympics amidst ongoing disputes between the IBA and the IOC concerning the governance and ethics of the boxing body.
The IOC, having taken charge of the Paris Games’ boxing events, warned that boxing must align with a new, trustworthy international body to ensure its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
This controversy comes as World Boxing - a new entity formed in 2023 and supported by major boxing nations including the United States and the United Kingdom - is negotiating to potentially oversee future Olympic boxing competitions, aiming to restore faith in the sport.
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