A Facebook post erroneously claims that boxer Imane Khelif has been banned for life after being recognized as a man by the WBO, losing her medals and earnings. The WBO clarified that Khelif is recognized as female. Despite recurring attacks on her gender identity, fact-checks have consistently disproven these allegations. Khelif faced disqualification from the women's world championships in March 2023 after a controversial victory, but she remains a recognized female athlete. The discourse often intertwines with broader societal debates about gender identity in sports.
"No she is recognized as a female," reads a written statement from the Organization dated March 19.
The debate surrounding the Algerian boxer flares up again and again on social media at regular intervals.
Back in September and October 2024, fact checks by the Australian Associated Press (APP) and Reuters, among others, refuted identical or similar false allegations.
Khelif, who was born on May 2, 1999, in Tiaret, Algeria, was excluded from the women's boxing world championships organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA) in March 2023.
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