The coach of Imane Khelif, the controversial Olympic Gold medalist, has disclosed that boxing officials prohibited her from participating in women’s competition last year due to a “issue with chromosomes.”
The International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified her after conducting medical tests that indicated the formidable welterweight was “biologically male.”
However, the Algerian disregarded all opposition after the Olympics permitted her to compete as a woman, citing the word “woman” in her passport as the sole reason.
Georges Cazorla, her coach, has now confirmed that the tests identified “a problem with hormones” and “with chromosomes,” indicating that she may have the XY gender chromosomes that are typical of a male.
He stated to the French magazine Le Point, “This poor young girl was devastated, devastated to suddenly discover that she might not be a girl.”
