Martina Navratilova calls out ‘irresponsible’ IOC for constantly ignoring recent ‘failed’ gender-test results of controversial boxer Imane Khelif

Martina Navratilova criticized the IOC after some reports claimed that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif failed two gender tests.

Martina Navratilova calls out ‘irresponsible’ IOC for constantly ignoring recent ‘failed’ gender-test results of controversial boxer Imane Khelif

Martina Navratilova and Imane Khelif (Images via Imago)

Martina Navratilova continued to attack the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for allowing Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to participate in the Paris Olympics after she allegedly failed a gender test. The former tennis player is against this very complex issue- the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sports. 

Since Khelif won her first match on Thursday at the Paris Olympics against Italy’s Angela Carini, who quit after just 46 seconds, social media users started accusing the Algerian of being male or transgender. Famous personalities like ‘Harry Potter’ author JK Rowling, Elon Musk, Giorgia Meloni, and Donald Trump criticized the IOC for backing Khelif to play in women’s 66-kilogram category. 

YouTube video

Navratilova, who has always been vocal about the issue, reacted to a post from an X user who claimed that Khelif is a ‘man’ as she has been tested twice in two different labs and at two different times. 

FS Video
This is just so irresponsible on IOC’s part. Beyond….
Martina Navratolova wrote on X

Check her post here:

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IOC President backs Imane Khelif but Martina Navratilova thinks it’s dangerous 

Along with Imane Khelif, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting also allegedly failed unspecified gender tests at the Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi. As per the International Boxing Association (IBA), these two athletes had male chromosomes and had high levels of testosterone.

Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova (Image via Imago)

However, the IOC, which doesn’t recognize the IBA, stated that abusing the two boxers is unacceptable. Amidst the controversy, IOC President Thomas Bach claimed Khelif and Yu-ting have been competing in boxing matches as women. 

We have two boxers who were born as women, who have been raised as women, who have a passport as a woman, and who have competed for many years as women. What we see now is that some want to own the definition of who is a woman. All this hate speech, aggression and abuse is totally unacceptable.
Thomas Bach said at a press conference 

Martina Navratilova however thinks it’s dangerous when players with ‘high testosterone’ are allowed in women’s events, especially in contact sports like boxing as the consequences can be fatal. 

Check her post here:

This is not the first time Navratilova joined the discussions about the participation of trans people in women’s sports. Whenever the controversy erupts, she makes sure she voices her opinions on X. 

Navratilova has won 18 singles, 31 doubles, and 10 mixed doubles Grand Slam trophies. She retired in 2006 after clinching a record 167 singles titles. 

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