Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, made headlines during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Khelif, who was suspected to be a biological man by many, won a gold medal in the women’s 66-kilogram category even though many people questioned her eligibility for the sport.
Now, a new scandal broke out months after the Paris Games concluded when a leaked medical report revealed thatKhelifis, in fact, a man.
French journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia obtained the report, which revealed that the 25-year-old has internal testicles and an XY chromosome composition, which could imply a hereditary disorder called 5-alpha reductase deficiency. This disorder affects sexual development and frequently leads to limited secondary masculine traits and ambiguous genitalia. Khelif’s anatomy, including the lack of a uterus and the existence of what was characterized as a micro-penis, was described in the report.
The report was prepared in June 2023 by medical experts from Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Hospital in Algiers and Kremlin-Bicêtre Hospital in Paris. Additionally, it suggested hormone therapy and surgical correction to match Khelif’s physical characteristics to her self-perceived gender identity.
Harbhajan Singh, the former Indian cricketer and World Cup winner, also responded to the development by tagging the Olympics on social media and asking them to take back the gold medal.