Logan Paul recently admitted to spreading misinformation about Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, igniting a heated debate on gender in sports. Paul’s controversial comments have brought significant attention to the issue.
On August 1, Paul misgendered Khelif in a social media post, incorrectly referring to her as a man and claiming that she was “allowed to beat up a woman on a global stage.” He wrote, “A man was allowed to beat up a woman on a global stage, crushing her life’s dream while fighting for her deceased father.”
Facing substantial backlash, Paul deleted the original tweet and issued a retraction. In his follow-up post, he stated, “Although she’s been previously disqualified for failing a ‘gender test’ and has XY chromosomes, some sources say Imane Khelif was born a biological woman.”
Despite acknowledging his mistake, Paul maintained his stance on the issue, stating, “I stand by my sentiment that biological men should not compete against biological women in any sport and if you disagree you’re a sick f**k.”
Paul’s original comments echoed sentiments expressed by other high-profile figures, including former President Donald Trump and author J.K. Rowling, who have also voiced their opposition to biological men competing in women’s sports.Imane Khelif, who has competed as a woman in previous Olympic events, has faced allegations and controversy regarding her gender. During the 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championships, Khelif and another boxer, Lin Yu-Ting, failed gender eligibility tests allegedly due to having XY chromosomes. Despite these allegations, Khelif insists they are part of a larger conspiracy against her.
The International Boxing Association has confirmed Khelif’s XY chromosomes but has not adopted a policy for testing female athletes’ testosterone levels. Prior to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Khelif’s tests did not indicate higher levels of testosterone, and she was deemed eligible to compete.
The ongoing debate over gender eligibility in sports remains contentious, with differing opinions on how to address and regulate the participation of athletes with varying gender identities and biological characteristics.