Journalists from The Associated Press and its members have sparked outrage after awarding controversial Olympic boxer Imane Khelif third place in the Female Athlete of the Year award.
The Algerian won gold in the women’s welterweight competition at this summer’s Games in Paris.
But it sparked major controversy after the International Boxing Association said Khelif had been disqualified from last year’s World Championships because he did not meet gender eligibility criteria.
Despite that disqualification, Khelif was cleared to compete by the International Olympic Committee, which organized the Olympic boxing tournament and eligibility criteria.
Her first opponent in Paris, Italian fighter Angela Carini, indicated after 46 seconds that she could not continue the fight, saying she had “never felt such a blow before.”
Despite the controversy that marred the Games, a group of 74 sports journalists from The Associated Press and its members voted this week to honor Khelif.
The Associated Press has sparked outrage after awarding Imane Khelif third place in its Female Athlete of the Year award
The Algerian controversially won the women’s welterweight competition at the Olympic Games
Caitlin Clark was named the winner for her stunning impact on women’s basketball thanks to a stellar senior year of college and her debut season in the WNBA, while Simone Biles came in second.
Clark received 35 votes, Olympic gymnast Biles came in second with 25 and Khelif came in third with four votes.
However, that decision has sparked outrage on social media.
Reacting to the news, one fan wrote: “This is so wrong on so many levels.”
Another commented: ‘This is sad. We are broken as a society!’
A third posted: ‘The world has gone mad!’
Others simply wrote ‘disgusting’ and ‘ridiculous’.
“This is such a shame on women,” another added.
Another user wrote: ‘What a shame’
Khelif is currently taking legal action following media reports allegedly detailing her leaked medical records.
Reports published in France last month claimed the 25-year-old has XY (male) chromosomes.
Khelif has filed a legal complaint with French authorities over the online abuse and harassment she was subjected to during the Games, and the IOC revealed she is also taking action following the reports that emerged in France.
Earlier this month, Donald Trump vowed to put an end to “transgender frenzy” in women’s sports upon his return to office, underlining the issue as a priority for when he becomes president again.
Speaking at AmericaFest in Arizona, Trump said: “With the stroke of a pen on Day 1, we are going to stop the transgender madness.
“And I will sign executive orders to end child mutilation, to get transgender people out of the military and out of our elementary, middle, and high schools.”
“And we will keep men out of women’s sports. And that will also happen on day 1. Should I do day 1, day 2 or day 3? What about day 1?
“Under the Trump administration, the official policy of the US government will be that there are only two genders: male and female. It doesn’t sound that complicated. Is that so?’
Khelif’s first opponent in Paris, Italian fighter Angela Carini, ended their fight just 46 seconds later
Trump hasn’t given any further details about what he plans to sign, but given his inauguration on January 20, people won’t have to wait long to find out.
Trump campaigned hard on his disdain for trans athletes competing in women’s sports, especially during the Olympics earlier this year.
He targeted Khelif, who is not transgender but allegedly failed a gender eligibility test, and mocked her participation in the event. He said: ‘Who wants men to participate in women’s sports?
“I would like to congratulate the young woman who has evolved from man to woman. He… She won gold.”
Referring to Khelif fighting Italian boxer Angela Carini, Trump said: “What about the woman, the beautiful woman, from Italy?
“She went in and had no idea what was going on. She is a very good boxer, but only against other women.
“He did this (plays punch). She immediately said, wow, no one has ever hit me that hard.
“Then he does it again and she immediately gives up.”
Earlier this month, Donald Trump promised to put an end to “transgender madness” in women’s sports
Responding to Trump’s taunts after the Olympics, Khelif said: “Right after there was a lot of noise from politicians, athletes, stars, artists – Elon Musk and Donald Trump, and that hurt me a lot, I can’t describe how scared I was.
‘This has affected me. I’m not lying to you, it made a big impression on me. It hurt a lot. I can’t describe the fear I had, but thank God I was able to overcome it.
“Thank God all the people of Algeria and the Arab world knew Imane Khelif with her femininity, her courage, her will.”