JK Rowling leads call to take away Algerian boxer Khelif’s gold medal after leaked Olympic documents
An Olympian at the centre of a chromosome controversy has clapped back as author JK Rowling leads calls for the boxer to hand back her gold medal.
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Imane Khelif has broken her silence amid the controversy surrounding her biological sex and calls to take away her gold medal.
In an Instagram post the athlete did not directly acknowledge the furor surrounding a leaked medical report that reportedly finds that her chromosome analysis makes her male.
Instead Khelif’s post celebrated Unicef’s Global Day of Parents, and featured a photo of Khelif in a blue polo shirt as she formed a heart with her hands.
In the caption Khelif wrote:
“Today, I became a champion, but it all started long ago.
“When my parents believed in me, even when the dream felt too big. When they supported me, listened to me, and stood by me.
“Being a parent isn’t easy. There’s no manual. But the love, patience, and trust you give your child can change everything.
“On this #GlobalDayOfParents, I just want to say thank you. Thank you to every parent who chooses, every single day, to be there for their children.
“Together with @unicefalgerie, I’m celebrating these everyday heroes. Because when parents are supported, children can dream and succeed.”
The Algerian has worked as a Unicef national ambassador since January, 2024.
It comes as author J.K. Rowling applauded leaked results showing Olympic gold medallist Imane Khelif is a biological male and said females “won’t be battered to death in the ring by men”.
Recent reports showed leaked medical results belonging to Khelif from the 2023 World Championships proving the Algerian is male and the international sports federation World Boxing declared Khelif must undergo mandatory sex screening before competing in future events.
Rowling - who has 14.3 million followers on X and has been outspoken about protecting women’s rights - posted on Monday (Tuesday AEST): “It’s a win for women because they won’t be battered to death in the ring by men.
“If you had any idea what physical tests women go through routinely in their lives you’d know a cheek swab is no bigger deal than flossing your teeth.
“Any more moronic questions, wing them over”.
Rowling also posted: “I never said and never believed Khelif was trans. I knew he was a man.”
It’s a win for women because they won’t be battered to death in the ring by men.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 2, 2025
If you had any idea what physical tests women go through routinely in their lives you’d know a cheek swab is no bigger deal than flossing your teeth.
Any more moronic questions, wing them over. https://t.co/Qa40hjn1CQ
The report claiming to have Khelif’s medical history was reported on website 3 Wire Sports by journalist Alan Abrahamson last week.
One user on X responded to Rowling and claimed 26-year-old Khelif is intersex - a person with gender characteristics that does not fit into a male or female category - and accused the author of, “spreading hatred because you can’t resist transphobia”.
But Rowling hit back and said: “Intersex doesn’t mean a third sex, a mixture of both sexes, or a hermaphrodite.
“Many people with DSDs (differences of sexual development) find the outdated term ‘intersex’ highly offensive, precisely because it means ignorant people like you suggest they aren’t male or female.”
Former British champion swimmer Sharron Davies also welcomed the publication of the Algerian’s biological results and posted on X: “Please stand with all female athletes, at all levels in all sport.
“Women & girls are worthy of their own sports, free from any & all males.
“Allowing males in a sports category they have no place in is cheating in full sight. Don’t remain silent anymore.”
Please stand with all female athletes, at all levels in all sport. Women & girls are worthy of their own sports, free from any & all males. Demand this basic right. Allowing males in a sports category they have no place in is cheating in full sight. Don’t remain silent anymore.. pic.twitter.com/DtVJlH5MWU
— Sharron Davies MBE (@sharrond62) June 2, 2025
Khelif was ruled out of the 2023 World championships after being unable to pass gender eligibility tests and the International Boxing Association said the boxer had XY chromosomes, not those of a woman which are XX.
At the Paris Olympics in 2024 Khelif was able to enter the Games by using gender shown on the athlete’s passport as proof of biology.
After causing much controversy Khelif won gold in the 66kg category and declared: “I am fully qualified to take part in this competition.
“I am a woman like any other woman.
“I was born a woman. I have lived as a woman. I competed as a woman - there is no doubt about that.”
Khelif also claimed at the time of being a victim of “bullying” by the IBA and said, they “hate me and I really don’t know why”.
Khelif has also spoken of plans to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Originally published as JK Rowling leads call to take away Algerian boxer Khelif’s gold medal after leaked Olympic documents