On August 2, 2024, former NFL star Shannon Sharpe took a stand for Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who has recently found herself at the center of a heated debate over gender at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Khelif, a 25-year-old athlete, was initially barred from last year’s world championships due to concerns over her chromosomes, which some alleged were indicative of male ‘XY’ chromosomes.
Despite this, she has been cleared to compete in the women’s category at the upcoming Olympics.
Sharpe, speaking on his Nightcap podcast, voiced his support for Khelif, challenging the controversy surrounding her eligibility. “She was born a woman,” Sharpe emphasized.
He questioned the scrutiny faced by transgender individuals seeking rights, noting that specific medical questions often arise in these discussions. “Can this woman have a child?” Sharpe asked. “Yes, she can. So, how is she not a woman? Biologically and anatomically, how is she not a woman?”
Khelif has never identified as transgender, yet her recent bout with Italy’s Angela Carini has intensified the media spotlight on her.
Angela Carini’s Early Exit Sparks Drama
Carini, who fought Khelif in a welterweight match, withdrew after just 46 seconds, visibly upset and alleging unfairness.
She suffered a suspected broken nose, threw few punches, and was seen in tears, expressing her frustration by hitting the canvas and refusing to shake Khelif’s hand after the match.
Olympic Committee’s Stance on the Issue
In response to the uproar, Olympic officials have defended their decision to allow Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting to compete.
Both athletes were previously disqualified from the 2023 world championship by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which has since been stripped of its status by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to governance issues and corruption allegations.
The IOC criticized the IBA’s handling of the disqualifications, asserting that the athletes were removed without due process. “Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination,” the IOC stated.
They also condemned the spread of misleading information about Khelif and Yu-ting, highlighting their longstanding participation in women’s boxing.
The IOC denounced the “aggression” directed at the boxers and emphasized that eligibility rules should be consistent and based on scientific evidence. They expressed regret over the abuse directed at the athletes, underscoring that rule changes must adhere to proper procedures.
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