This past summer, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was at the center of the biggest controversy in the 2024 Paris Olympics. She won a gold medal despite people being unsure about her gender. 

All the controversy surrounding Khelif stems from the International Boxing Association disqualifying her from last year’s world championships for failing to meet its gender eligibility criteria. The International Olympic Committee defended Khelif by saying those tests were “flawed.” That didn’t stop people from spreading rumors about the gold medalist being a biological male. 

Fast forward to the end of December, and The Associated Press revealed that Khelif received a few votes for Female Athlete of the Year. In fact, the controversial boxer placed third behind WNBA star Caitlin Clark and legendary gymnast Simone Biles. 

Once this news was shared with the public, sports fans went over to social media to blast The Associated Press. 

“The absurd part is @AP knows he is a man (just as anyone with eyes does), but they just don’t care,” Riley Gaines said. His medical records showing his chromosomes & anatomy are public. 4 dunces just genuinely believe a man makes the best woman. Why have a woman’s award if a man can win it?

“Say goodbye to any credibility AP may have had. Ludicrous, insanity, wokeness. … whatever you want to call it,” one person wrote on X. 

Another person tweeted, “AP is pathetic! I will boycott their reports from now on.” 

“The AP is toxic far leftist media. Boycott them,” a social media user commented.