Boxing’s Biggest Scandal: Leaked Medical Report Sparks Fury Over Algerian Female Boxer’s True Identity
- [이데일리 이로원 기자] Algerian female boxer Imane Khalif (25), who won a gold medal in the 66kg women's boxing class at the 2024 Paris Olympics but was embroiled...
- According to Indian media such as the Times of India and Hindustan Times on the 5th (local time), this report obtained by French journalist Jafar Ait Audia contains...
- 5-alpha reductase deficiency is a rare genetic disease that can affect the appearance of the external genitalia and is known to occur only in men.
[이데일리 이로원 기자] Algerian female boxer Imane Khalif (25), who won a gold medal in the 66kg women’s boxing class at the 2024 Paris Olympics but was embroiled in a ‘gender controversy’, is in controversy after a medical report was leaked showing that she was biologically male. The report said Caliph had internal testes and XY chromosomes.
Algeria’s Imane Khalif celebrates with a determined expression after winning a 5-0 decision over her Hungarian sister, Rucher Hermori, in the women’s boxing 66kg quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics held at the South Paris Arena in Paris, France. Photo = Paris AP Yonhap News
According to Indian media such as the Times of India and Hindustan Times on the 5th (local time), this report obtained by French journalist Jafar Ait Audia contains the content that the Caliph has 5-alpha reductase deficiency.
5-alpha reductase deficiency is a rare genetic disease that can affect the appearance of the external genitalia and is known to occur only in men.
The report, written in June last year by experts from the Kremlin-Bicetre Hospital in Paris, France and the Mohamed Ramin Dbagin Hospital in Algeria, explains that while the Caliph does not have a uterus, he has internal testicles, XY chromosomes, and testosterone levels similar to those of a male. Do it.
Controversy over Caliph’s gender has been brewing even before he competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was disqualified from the International Boxing Association (IBA) at last year’s World Boxing Championships after it was discovered that he had XY chromosomes, meaning he was biologically male.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed Khalif to participate by creating and operating a separate organization under the IOC called the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU) instead of the IBA, which was unable to host Olympic boxing events due to disciplinary action.
The IOC stated its official position, saying, “The gender standard for athletes participating in the Olympics is what is indicated on their passports,” and “There is no problem with athletes participating in the Olympics.”
Kalif, who competed at the Paris Olympics, won by forfeit in 46 seconds against Italy’s Angela Carini in the round of 16, and then won both the quarterfinals and semifinals by unanimous decision 5-0.
After winning the gold medal at the time, Khalif said, “I am fully qualified to participate in the Olympics,” and added, “I was born a woman, and I live as a woman. “Of course I qualify for the Olympics,” he claimed.
Lee Won (bliss243@edaily.co.kr)