Paris Olympics gold medalist Imane Khelif, celebrated for her groundbreaking win in the women’s boxing category, faces renewed scrutiny following leaked medical reports confirming her as male. The leaked document, reported by French journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia, reveals that Khelif, who competed in the women’s 66kg category, may be ineligible due to a rare genetic condition that affects sexual development.

According to the report, Khelif has internal testicles and an XY chromosome configuration, indicating a condition known as 5-alpha reductase deficiency, which can result in ambiguous genitalia and limited secondary male characteristics. These findings have ignited discussions about her participation in women’s boxing, especially after Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from their match at the Olympics following her experience with Khelif in the ring. Khelif’s eligibility had previously come into question when she failed a gender eligibility test at the 2023 World Championships.

Despite the controversy, Khelif secured a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, marking a historic achievement as the first woman from Algeria to win this honor. However, her victory has drawn sharp criticism from both sports commentators and public figures. The ongoing debate over her eligibility has raised broader questions about gender classification in international sports, particularly in women’s categories, as athletes with hyperandrogenic conditions face complex challenges.

ALSO READ: Kenya Court Sentences Killers of Olympian Benjamin Kiplagat to 35 Years

The report also disclosed additional anatomical details, including the absence of a uterus and the presence of a micropenis. Recommendations within the report suggested surgical interventions and hormone therapy to align her physical traits with her self-identified gender. Khelif has consistently asserted her right to compete as a woman, stating, “I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified.”

In response to the situation, the International Boxing Association (IBA) called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach to “kneel and apologize” to women boxers allegedly “beaten and abused” by Khelif due to the ongoing eligibility concerns.