Imane Khelif, Olympic gold medallist, identified as 'man' with internal testicles in leaked report

Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, who won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 in the 66kg women’s boxing category, is once again at the center of a gender-related controversy following revelations about her eligibility status. According to a report published in Reduxx, medical reports accessed by French journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia confirm that Khelif has “testicles”.

The report further states that Khelif suffers from 5-alpha reductase deficiency, a sexual development disorder found in genetic males. The leaked medical reports were reportedly drafted in June of 2023 via a collaboration between the Kremlin-Bicêtre Hospital in Paris, France, and the Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Hospital in Algiers, Algeria.

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Imane Khelif’s medical report

A medical report on Imane Khelif, which included an MRI and additional tests, indicated characteristics associated with a disorder of sexual development. The MRI allegedly showed that Khelif lacked a uterus, had internal testes, and had a “micropenis” resembling an enlarged clitoris.

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Chromosome tests reportedly confirmed an XY karyotype, and a hormone analysis indicated testosterone levels within the typical male range, the medical report claimed.

What is a 5-alpha reductase deficiency?

5-alpha reductase deficiency is a genetic condition that impacts sexual development in those who are genetically male, affecting them both before birth and during puberty. Individuals with this condition may be assigned female at birth due to ambiguous external genitalia that does not distinctly appear male or female. Typically, people with this deficiency experience masculinization at puberty, which may include increased muscle mass, body hair growth, and limited breast tissue development.

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Imane Khelif’s history

The Algerian boxer was suspended by the now-suspended International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2023 from participating in the World Championship Gold Medal fight in New Delhi after Khelif reportedly failed a chromosome test, however, the boxer was allowed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to take part in the Paris Olympics.

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As per IOC, Khelif was assigned female gender at birth and her passport also says the same, which makes her eligible to compete at the Games.

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It should also be noted that Khelif had participated in various IBA-organized events before being suspended in 2023.

IBA was suspended by IOC due to governance-related issues and corruption charges.