From gender to race: Sporting lessons from the Paris Olympics humiliation of Imane Khelif

"I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes. Because this has effects, massive effects. It can destroy people, it can kill people's thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”

These were the words of 25-year-old Algerian boxer Imane Khelif during an interview with SNTV, a sports video partner of The Associated Press, on Sunday, August 4.

Khelif made these comments after facing severe bullying, including accusations that she is a trans woman, following a heated row about gender eligibility.

The gender row began when Italian boxer Angela Carini abandoned her qualifying match with Khelif on August 1, just 46 seconds into the first round, citing safety concerns after a powerful blow to the face.

Following this match, critics targeted Khelif on social media, including contentious figures such as US election candidate Donald Trump, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, and far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Hungarian opponent Anna Luca Hamori further inflamed the situation by comparing Khelif to a devil-like monster on Instagram and spreading transphobic sentiments before their match last week.

Despite the bullying, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has strongly supported Khelif, as well as Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting, who also faced bullying during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

On August 3, IOC President Thomas Bach stated, “We have two boxers who were born as women, who have been raised as women, who have a passport as a woman, and who have competed for many years as women.”

Discrimination against women of colour is nothing new

The gender row reveals a troubling pattern of discrimination against people of colour.

Throughout her tennis career, which began in the mid-1990s, Serena Williams faced intense scrutiny over her physique.

Despite turning professional at 14, winning 23 Grand Slams, overcoming numerous injuries, and surviving a near-fatal birth experience, Williams’s muscular build was frequently criticised.

“People would say I was born a guy, all because of my arms or because I’m strong,” Williams told Harper’s Bazaar in 2018.

“I was different from Venus: she was thin and tall and beautiful, and I am strong and muscular — and beautiful, but, you know, it was just totally different.”

Similarly, South African runner Caster Semenya faced discrimination after her 800m victory at the 2009 World Championships.

Despite being identified as female at birth and raised as a girl, Semenya was sidelined for 11 months due to regulations concerning hormone levels.

She has a condition known as differences in sex development (DSDs), which results in naturally high testosterone levels.

The latest athlete to face such scrutiny is Indian wrestling star Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from her gold medal bout at the Games for being 100 grams overweight.

These accusations against women of colour not only humiliate actual trans girls and women, who are often denied high-level competition opportunities, but also unfairly target cis women of colour, punishing them for their achievements and questioning their very identity.

This situation also highlights hypocrisy in the Olympics.

Why was Khelif vilified, slandered, and even pressured to provide childhood photographs to prove her gender, while Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was sentenced to four years in prison in the UK in 2016 for raping a 12-year-old girl when he was 19, received far less scrutiny? 

Although the player has now been removed from the Games, a clear double standard is evident this year.

The female battle against testosterone 

The controversy surrounding Khelif has deeply impacted not only her, but also her family, and the broader female community, particularly women who suffer from high testosterone levels.

Elevated testosterone, can lead to unfair scrutiny, especially in women with conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH).

Notably, 37% of female Olympians have PCOS, a condition that contributes to 70% of hyperandrogenism cases.

PCOS symptoms, for example, include acne, excessive body hair growth, and scalp hair loss, and the condition affects an estimated 5% of women.

Testosterone, a sex hormone produced by both men and women, is at the heart of this row. Although it's unclear whether Khelif has disclosed any medical conditions that might explain her elevated testosterone levels, one thing is certain: having the so-called 'male hormone' is nothing to be ashamed of.

Aless Bove, a nutritional therapist at The PCOS Expert, shared her thoughts on women with elevated testosterone: “While conditions like PCOS can reduce the quality of life for many women, it can also be a superpower. Testosterone is often labelled a ‘male hormone,’ but we need it in regulated amounts for energy, mood, and bone health.

"Elevated testosterone does not determine gender identity, but it affects around 5-10% of women and is linked to certain medical conditions. It can also fluctuate depending on lifestyle, diet, and stress,” Bove explains to The New Arab.

Three women with PCOS, who chose to remain anonymous, shared their feelings about the Khelif controversy.

Sarah* expressed her sadness: “I felt very saddened by Khelif’s case. The impact this has had on the world makes me angry about humanity and how people can hurt each other without compassion and empathy.

"Everyone has scars and has gone through struggles, and no one should be judgmental, no matter what.”

She added that the harsh comments about Khelif’s physical appearance reminded her of high school bullying, feeling like a return to a playground where kids are mean.

Layla* shared similar sentiments: “When I first saw the situation surrounding Khelif, I felt sorry for her, much like I did for intersex athlete Caster Semenya years ago. After seeing influencers like Jake Paul suggest giving her opponent a ‘fair chance’ against someone who wasn’t ‘male,’ my frustration grew.

"I, too, have elevated testosterone levels that I cannot control despite my best efforts. I can only imagine how heart-wrenching it must have been for Khelif to see the world turn on her overnight for something she cannot control," Layla adds. 

"Athletes train for years for their moment in the sun, and Khelif’s moment was stolen from her because of a chemical imbalance within her body that the world failed to understand. The so-called ‘controversy’ is morally repugnant and deeply offensive.”

Jasmine* voiced concern for Khelif’s mental health: “I found it incredibly sad and really sympathised with Khelif. As a woman with PCOS, you are always conscious of symptoms making you appear less ‘female.’ The cruel trolls and narrative surrounding Khelif are likely to be triggering for her and could significantly affect her mental health.”

Urgent need for change

Recent events demonstrate the urgent need for significant changes to prevent the humiliation of misgendering.

This also extends to unnecessary revisits of past injustices. For example, amid the ongoing gender debate, critics have fixated on Khelif, highlighting her previous disqualification from competition due to "elevated levels of testosterone," which allegedly did not meet the eligibility criteria.

This change is not just a matter of discussion; it is critical, particularly given that Khelif has recently received death threats.

So, what actions are necessary to protect these women's mental health?

First, testing practices must undergo major improvements. 

Despite advancements from visual exams in the 1930s to more sophisticated chromosome and testosterone tests, the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) handling of Khelif and Yu-Ting’s testing remains unclear.

The IBA has not disclosed the details of the tests or the reasons for the boxers' disqualification, citing confidentiality.

On Wednesday, July 31, the IBA stated that the two boxers "did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a separate and recognised test, the specifics of which remain confidential."

IOC spokesman Mark Adams affirmed that all participants in the women's event were "complying with competition eligibility rules."

He noted, "These athletes have competed many times before for many years, they haven't just arrived, they competed in Tokyo.

"Testosterone is not a perfect test. Many women can have testosterone which is in what would be called 'male levels' and still be women, still compete as women.

"This idea that suddenly you do one test for testosterone and that sorts everything out — not the case, I'm afraid.

"I hope we're all agreed that we're not calling for people to go back to the bad old days of sex testing, which was a terrible thing to do."

Bove argues that improving testing involves addressing the complexities and natural variability of high testosterone in women.

She suggests that incorporating medical insights can provide a better understanding of how hormone levels affect performance and health.

Bove adds, "Why should women be excluded for something that naturally occurs in their bodies? Policies should be inclusive, consider natural hormonal variations, and maintain transparent criteria to ensure fair competition."

She also notes that while women with naturally higher testosterone may have certain advantages in sports, this does not mean their gender should be questioned.

Bove illustrates this by pointing out that Jamaican runner Usain Bolt’s muscle composition, which contributed to his speed, was due to genetics rather than an unfair advantage.

Preventing disinformation in media reporting is also crucial, as media coverage can frame narratives and shape public opinion.

For instance, The Daily Mail's headline, “Olympics gender row boxer Imane Khelif bursts in tears and declares 'I am a woman' - as she gloats about 'winning a medal for Algeria and Arabs' having guaranteed at least a bronze after her quarter final victory,” questions Khelif’s gender and portrays her as self-congratulatory.

To add insult to injury, this framing not only perpetuates racial biases but also intensifies the bullying Khelif has endured.

“Journalists and sports officials should receive diversity and inclusion training to promote transparent reporting standards, and ensure that policies are informed by a broad range of perspectives," says Bove. 

"Media outlets should be evaluated for balanced and accurate coverage, and sports organisations must implement anti-discrimination policies to foster an environment of respect and equality.”

While there’s a long way to go to get these improvements in place, some changes are currently being discussed.

A Joint Paris 2024 Boxing Unit/IOC Statement on Thursday, August 1, indicated that the IOC needs National Boxing Federations to reach a consensus around a new International Federation for boxing to be included in the sports programme of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

As Khelif prepares to compete against Chinese boxer Yang Liu for the gold medal this Friday, we can only hope that the focus will remain on the Algerian boxer's talents and not on trolling. 

*Name changed to protect identity

Zainab Mehdi is The New Arab's Associate Editor and researcher specialising in governance, development, and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa region

Follow her on X: @zaiamehdi