Is Imane Khelif Really A 'Biological Male'? Here's Another Side No One Is Talking About At Olympics

Paris Olympics has erupted into controversy after Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif who is allegedly a ‘biological male’ won her fight against female Italian boxer Angela Carini inside just 46 seconds after the Italian quit ‘unjust' Women's 66 KG boxing bout. 

Carini who was shook with two massive punches ended up in blood and tears as she quit the fight. Since, then there has been a lot of hate and rage against Imane Khelif's legitimacy for the fight as she is accused to be a biological male. Amidst all the anger, there is however, another angle to the controversy that comes to the Algerian's defence. 

The controversy around Imane Khelif 

Prior to the Paris Olympics, Imane Khelif had failed multiple gender tests and was banned from major tournaments at boxing. She was also booted out of 2023 World Championship after failing testosterone test important to establish gender qualification. 

However, the International Olympic Committee allowed Imane Khelif to participate in Paris Summer Games and when she decimated Italy's Carini it sparked a major fallout from all around the globe over how was such a bizzare decision allowed. 

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke out against the incident and top public figures in Elon Musk, JK Rowling and Israel Adesanya also vented how unjust this incident was. However, there's a reason why Imane Khelif is participating in the Olympics, one that people are missing out on. 

Is Imane Khelif really a Biological Male?  The Truth

While the internet has been quick to label and accuse Imane Khelif as Biological Male, the truth is she was born as a female and is not a transgender athlete. 

Khelif was female at birth, but she has a condition called DSD - Differences of Sex Development. Due to this condition, Imane Khelif's chromosomes developed into X and Y that is male chromosome and she has higher testesterone compared to female athletes. 

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This is the real reason behind Imane Khelif failing the gender tests. Under DSD, a person's chromosomes and physical characteristics are affected hence labelling a DSD person as ‘Biological Male’ or ‘Biological Female’ is wrong. 

Given that Khelif was born as a female and is a socially accepted female, the IOC allowed her the right to compete at Paris Olympics.