The scandal surrounding Imane Khelif continues. The Algerian boxer, gold medalist at the Paris Olympic Games, has been at the center of controversy for a few days after a medical report was leaked confirming her masculinity. Published by journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia, The document states that Khelif has an XY karyotype, typically male, and high testosterone levels, concluding that he suffers from an alpha 5 reductase deficiency.
Khelif’s controversial medical report states that a pelvic examination did not show the presence of a uterus, but did reveal gonads (testicles) in the inguinal canals, a blind vagina and a clitoris-shaped micropenis. Due to all this evidence, the research suggests that the Algerian woman, even if she lives “fully as a woman,” should undergo a sexual transition with “surgical correction” and “hormonal therapy” to reduce her testosterone levels.
La Púgil did not take long to respond by announcing a lawsuit. “We will meet with the French journalist in court,” said the Algerian athlete in reference to Djaffar Ait Aoudia who insists on the veracity of everything published.
Coincidence or fright?
However, while waiting to see what happens in court, the boxer has found herself involved in a new controversy. The Oxford Union – the Oxford University debating society considered the best in the world – had announced that Khelif would be among several speakers this semester.
To everyone’s surprise, on November 14, three days before the talk took place, the Oxford Arab Society published a statement on Instagram that “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Imane Khelif would not be able to attend the event in collaboration with Oxford Union, so the event has been cancelled. “We apologize for any disappointment and inconvenience to members who were looking forward to the event.”
And the suspicions about the reasons for this cancellation they wouldn’t take long to arrive. Curiously, the publication It came just 15 minutes after former Olympic athlete Mara Yamauchi made public the letter sent to the University of Oxford on social media. with a series of questions to be included in the debate with the controversial Algerian boxer.
Mara Yamauchi, who ran at the 2012 Beijing and London Olympics for the British team, had posted a letter ahead of Khelif’s scheduled appearance. The former Oxford University student had asked the president of the body to invite the boxers defeated by Khelif in the Olympic Games to attend the debate.
Yamauchi had also requested that five questions be asked of Khelif including why had she withdrawn an appeal over her disqualification from the Women’s World Boxing Championship, if she provided public evidence to prove that she is a woman, why does the women’s category exist, in boxing and in all sports? o whether Khelif supported the previous participation of the South African runner Caster Semenya in the Olympic Games.
Interestingly, Yamauchi emailed his letter to the president of the Oxford Union at 4:59 pm on November 14 and tweeted it at 5:04 pm The Oxford Arab Society posted at 5:20 pm on the same day that Khelif had cancelled. Chance? The controversy is served.
