Gender in Sports: The Imane Khelif Controversy

As I watched the news unfold, I couldn’t help but think, here we go again. In recent times, the sports world has been rocked by various controversies surrounding gender eligibility, including the high-profile case of South African middle-distance runner Caster Semenya. Semenya faced similar scrutiny and pushback due to her naturally elevated testosterone levels, prompting a years-long legal battle with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Despite the publicity and discourse around Semenya’s case, it appears that little progress has been made regarding how these complex issues are addressed.

Imane Khelif was cleared to compete in the women’s division at the Olympics despite previously failing one of the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) gender eligibility requirements. To date, we have no details of how this test was conducted except that the results allegedly indicated that Khelif and another athlete Lin Yu-ting both had XY and not XX chromosomes and therefore they were disqualified from competing.

Some of the propaganda on social media is vile and there have been lots of speculation including a false rumour that Khelif is a trans woman. It is not lost on me that there is a group of largely homophobic men who suddenly care about male violence against women because they believe Khelif is a trans woman. Further analysis and contributions from medical doctors have suggested that Khelif may have differences in sex development (DSD), a group of rare conditions involving genes, hormones and reproductive organs. While many are openly empathising with Carini, others are choosing to vilify Khelif.

This situation has ignited intense, polarising debates around fairness and inclusion. Amidst the public scrutiny, I can’t help but empathise with Khelif, who finds herself at the center of a controversy over circumstances beyond her control. The emotional toll of being thrust into the spotlight and having her identity scrutinised must be overwhelming, all for simply existing outside the bounds of society’s rigid gender expectations.

Some, such as J.K. Rowling, are adamant that Khelif is a man who shouldn’t compete in women’s sports. On X she shares a comment with a picture of what to me seemed like Khelif looking awkward and unsure how to support her opponent. Rowling comments; “Could any picture sum up our new men’s rights movement better? The smirk of a male who knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered.” First of all, why is she insisting that this is a man? Even as someone who supports J. K. Rowling on her stance that we need to protect women-only safe spaces, I can admit that this perspective unfairly paints Khelif as a cheat who is intentionally posing a threat to the safety and ambitions of female athletes.

On the other hand, advocates like Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu emphasise Khelif’s right to compete as a woman due to her “having a cervix” and living as a woman her entire life. Perhaps the most ironic of all the comments I read was that from boxing champion Nicola Adams who is part of the LGBTQIA community. Chiming in using the hashtag #IStandWithCarini she states: “People not born as biological women, that have been through male puberty should not be able to compete in women’s sport.” Followed by a clarification that her statement had “nothing to do with transgender.” I just wish public figures wait until all pertinent facts have been determined, before adding fuel to social media bonfires.

These arguments completely overlook the complexity of Khelif’s situation. She does not fit into any of these boxes so why is no one addressing the rights of athletes who don’t fit neatly into gender binaries? Khelif definitely did not go through male puberty. She is not a trans woman who has lived as a man, attempting to compete in a woman’s space. Though we are still unsure of the testing that led to this conclusion from the IBA, if true, I can understand why she cannot be considered a cisgender female athlete due to her reported XY chromosome. Yet this is someone who grew up as a little girl and was always dressed as a little girl with bows in her hair. She has never thought of herself as or identified as a boy or a man. She has lived as the gender she was assigned at birth perhaps knowing that she was different but unsure why or how. Khelif occupies a grey area and this is an area that needs to be explored with compassion and nuance.

The real challenge lies in finding a path that respects Khelif’s right to compete while also ensuring fairness in the world of sports. We must ask ourselves: how can we create an inclusive environment that allows athletes like Khelif to thrive without excluding others? What are the alternatives to current gender eligibility tests that could accommodate the unique circumstances of individuals who don’t fit into predefined gender categories? Do we need to revisit the categories that people can compete in to ensure overall fairness?

The controversy surrounding Khelif’s participation in women’s sports also highlights a glaring double standard in our society. On one hand, we attempt to force individuals into rigid gender categories, often without considering their unique experiences and identities. Yet, when people take the courageous step to transition and embrace the gender that aligns with their authentic selves, they face vilification and resistance. A trans man who goes by the handle @lute_goblin on Instagram reflects on this double standard in a comment under a post by author Ijeoma Oluo who shared “a few words on Imane Khelif and the inherent racism in the anti-trans hate being hurled at her.” @lute_goblin said and with his permission I quote: “As a trans dude who has been doing HRT [Hormone Replacement Therapy] for nearly two years and recently had top surgery, I am losing it at all of the bigots claiming that her [Imane Khelif] elevated testosterone levels “make her a man” while also being the same crowd to claim that l’m “a confused woman.” Mental gymnastics are my favorite thing to watch during the Olympics. All joking aside though, I wish her peace and safety as she is in some very real danger with all of this. It’s not fair.”

To truly foster an inclusive society, we must make space for the “unicorns” among us – those who defy simple categories and challenge the status quo. By rejecting the notion that everyone must fit into predefined gender boxes, we can instead celebrate the rich diversity of the human experience and create a world that embraces authenticity in all its forms.

Khelif’s story is a reminder that the world of sports, like society at large, is grappling with the complexities of gender identity. It is crucial that we approach these issues with empathy, understanding, and an openness to reevaluating our current systems. Only by embracing the nuance and diversity of the human experience can we create a more inclusive and equitable world for all, both on and off sports fields.

From the desk of the disruptor; a display of my aversion to conforming to societal expectations, my unpopular & often uncensored opinions & observations, & my refusal to be trapped by dogma. You can find me here socially commenting and unapologetically shaking tables for whatever it is I truly believe in. 

Featured Image Fact Check: The Supreme brand of boxing gloves from Everlast. In 2015 Everlast launched an advertising campaign which followed a young female boxer into the ring, aiming to completely destroy sexism in the sport. It features young boxer Makayla Maxwell stepping into the ring, where after quoting Mohammed Ali she says; “Imagine a world where it does not matter whether you are a boy or a girl, what matters is how well you play?”