Imane Khelif threatens legal action against journalist who published “leaked” medical report

Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif has threatened legal action against one journalist which published an unverified, allegedly leaked one medical report about her. The report claimed that the Algerian boxer ‘has masculine characteristics’, despite both Khelif and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) claiming otherwise.

Speaking on the Italian show Lo Stato delle Cose, Khelif He told presenter Massimo Giletti: “I did not know President Meloni’s statements, but I saw that many politicians and presidents speak without any real source.

“We will meet the French journalist in court.”

Imane Khelif has threatened to sue a journalist who published an allegedly leaked medical assessment claiming she possesses male chromosomes

Image credits: Annice Lyn/Getty
On October 25, almost three months after the Olympic Games were over, the French magazine Le Correspondant and other sources published a report falsely claiming that Khelif had been born a biological female and identifies as femalehas XY (male) chromosomes.

The report is said to be a collaboration between French and Algerian expert endocrinologists working at the Kremlin-Bicêtre Hospital in Paris and the Mohamed Lamine Debaghine Hospital in Algiers, written in June 2023. Image reported.

Citing the allegedly leaked medical report, the publication accused Khelif of having undergone hormone therapy before the disease Olympic Games.

Image credits: Marco Ravagli/Getty

Jacques Young, an endocrinologist at Bicêtre Hospital in Paris, who reportedly co-authored the paper, told DW that his name was used to spread disinformation with a anti-trans agenda.

In a statement to the newspaper, the Algerian Olympic Committee (COA) said: “These attacks, often based on unfounded accusations, are aimed at tarnishing the image of an athlete who has brought honor to our nation on the international stage.

“We strongly condemn these attempts at destabilization, which have no place in the sports world.”

“We will meet the French journalist in court,” the Olympic gold medalist said

Image credits: Rai

The IOCthe governing body of Olympic sports, stated that they would not comment on “unverified documents whose origin cannot be confirmed” but said it understood that the boxer was “preparing a lawsuit following the latest reporting ‘.

The unverified report was shared by many media outlets and former swimmers Riley Gaines and Sharron Davies, who have openly opposed the inclusion of transgender women in female sporting categories.

Khelif’s response to Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, comes after the politician suggested it was unfair of her to box Angela Carini, the Italian athlete who withdrew from her Olympic fight against Khelif after 46 seconds.

“I know you won’t give up, Angela, and I know that one day, through effort and sweat, you will earn what you deserve. In a competition that is finally fair,” Meloni wrote in August.

Image credits: Rai

Carini refused to shake Khelif’s hand, but later apologized to the athlete. “I have nothing against Angela Carini,” the Algerian boxer explained.

“She’s a boxer, a young girl. I have nothing against the people who pressured her to behave this way (…) I am sure that the pressure she was exposed to led her to this behavior.

‘I want to send a message to Angela. I want to tell her that she is a friend and will remain a friend, the apology was accepted from the bottom of my heart. I wish her every success. People can make mistakes, but we have to learn from our mistakes.”

Khelif became the target of online attacks and questions about her body and gender after beating Italian boxer Angela Carini in less than a minute at the Olympics

Image credits: Eurosport

Image credits: Eurosport

The fight sparked a wave of transphobic comments online, with high-profile figures including Donald Trump, JK RowlingAnd Elon Musk opposed Khelif’s inclusion in the competition, causing the athlete to be mistreated on social media.

Khelif, who won gold after his defeat The Chinese Yang Liu in the women’s 66 kilogram category, faced criticism and speculation about her body all the time Olympic Games.

The accusations started after the Russians took charge International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified Khelif and accused her of twice failing unspecified gender tests at the world championships in 2022 and 2023.

The IBA has never provided substantial evidence to support its claim that the athlete possesses XY chromosomes.

The IOC stated that the tests were “not legitimate.” In 2019, the IBA’s Olympic status was revoked due to concerns over governance, corruption and financial mismanagement.

Khelif called Carini a friend and said she accepted the Italian athlete’s apology for not shaking her hand after withdrawing from their fight

Image credits: Eurosport

Image credits: Richard Pelham/Getty

Responding to the allegations against Khelif and the Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-tingwho was also disqualified from the IBA, the IOC emphasized that both athletes were eligible to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

“All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games comply with the entry and participation rules of the competition, as well as all applicable medical regulations established by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit,” the IOC said on August 1.

“We have seen misleading information in reports about two female athletes competing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games… The IOC is saddened by the abuse the two athletes are currently suffering.

“The current aggression against these two athletes is entirely based on this arbitrary decision, which was made without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes have been competing at the highest level for many years. (…) Everyone has the right to participate in sports without discrimination.”

In August one criminal complaint was placed at the anti-online hate center of the Paris prosecutor’s office for alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” against Khelif.