Former NFL player Shannon Sharpe came to the defense of Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif, whose presence at the 2024 Paris Olympics has sparked a global gender row.
The 25-year-old was cleared to compete in the women’s category at the Games after she was rejected from last year’s world championships for allegedly having male ‘XY chromosomes.’
‘She was born a woman,’ Sharpe said on an episode of his Nightcap podcast, via Awful Announcing.
‘Transgender people are trying to get rights. And when they go to Capitol Hill, these senators and representatives on the other side ask doctors very specific questions. “Doc, I want to ask you one thing, can this woman have a child?” Yes, she can … So, how is she not a woman? Biologically and anatomically, how is she not a woman?’ he went on.
Khelif is not a transgender woman and has never identified as such.
Former NFL player Shannon Sharpe threw his support behind Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif
The 25-year-old was cleared to compete in the women’s category at the 2024 Paris Olympics
However, she began making headlines after Italy’s Angela Carini abandoned their fight in just 46 seconds before breaking down in tears.
The defeated welterweight was hit twice, suffered a suspected broken nose and barely threw a punch before telling her corner ‘it’s not fair.’
She then sank to her knees, beat the canvas in frustration and refused to shake Khelif’s hand after conceding victory.
Meanwhile, Olympic bosses doubled down on their decision to allow Khelif – and Taiwan‘s Lin Yu-ting – to compete after they were disqualified from the 2023 world championship.
The IBA were the governing body who oversaw the competition last year, but had their status stripped by the IOC over governance issues and alleged corruption.
‘Biologically and anatomically, how is she not a woman?’ Sharpe said on his podcast
Angela Carini abandoned her fight with Khelif in 46 seconds before breaking down in tears
‘They (Khelif and Yu-ting) were suddenly disqualified without any due process,’ the IOC said in a statement after taking over the running of boxing in the Games and the eligibility rules surrounding it.
‘Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination,’ the statement went on.
It also attacked ‘misleading information about two female athletes’, adding that the pair ‘have been competing in international boxing competitions for many years in the women’s category.’
The statement highlighted ‘aggression’ against the boxers which it said was ‘based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure’.
‘Such an approach is contrary to good governance. Eligibility rules should not be changed during ongoing competition, and any rule change must follow appropriate processes and should be based on scientific evidence … The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently receiving.’