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American comedian Theo Von has urged sports officials to create new categories for transgender boxers following the Olympic controversy surrounding Imane Khelif.
Algerian boxer Khelif, who is a biological female, won gold in the women’s welterweight division at this summer’s Paris Olympics amid fierce outrage over the decision to allow her to compete.
The International Olympic Committee sparked uproar by letting the 25-year-old fight against women just over a year since she was disqualified from the world championships after allegedly failing tests which proved she has male ‘XY chromosomes’.
Though while she was thrown out of that tournament, the International Boxing Association are still yet to provide evidence that Khelif tested for XY chromosomes, meaning the IOC cleared her to compete after also severing ties with the Russian-led organization.
Theo Von (left) has urged sports officials to create new categories for transgender boxers following the Olympic controversy surrounding Imane Khelif (right)
On the latest episode of his YouTube podcast, Von brought up the OIympic controversy in a conversation with legendary ex-UFC champion Georges St-Pierre.
And while the pair did not reference Khelif directly, they both called for women to be protected against transgender fighters who were born male in the future by creating a new division.
After St-Pierre branded the prospect of a biological male fighting a female ‘disgusting’, Von – who has 2.86 million subscribers – said: ‘If people are dealing with their own sexual identity and they don’t know, [they should] create a new division so that they can be there and be the pioneers of a new division. Then that way they’re getting to be a part of something new.’
St-Pierre then referenced female tennis legend Serena Williams losing against a male player before saying: ‘In tennis it’s different because it’s a game, in basketball it’s a game. But when it’s combat sports, we should protect women.’
Von concluded: ‘And the men should speak up for that.’
Von and Georges St-Pierre both called for new divisions to be made in light of the Khelif drama
The Algerian boxer stormed her way to gold at the Olympics amid outrage over her inclusion in the women’s catehory
Khelif, who is a biological female, was thrown out of last year’s world championships after allegedly failing tests which proved she is a male – although proof has never been provided
As contention swirled around Khelif’s participation at the Olympics last month, the podcast host also wrote on X: ‘Dear men who are playing women’s sports, quit with the bulls**t. You know what youre doing. DONT DO IT BRO!!!’
The controversy surrounding Khelif reached boiling point when she battered Italian opponent Angela Carini into submission after just 46 seconds of their opening tie.
Carini later revealed her decision to abandon the fight was necessary to ‘preserve my life’, after she explained how she had ‘never felt a punch’ like the one Khelif inflicted.
However, she later backtracked and revealed she wanted to apologize to her opponent for reacting bitterly after her defeat and fueling the outrage online.
Khelif was subjected to abuse and false allegations while storming to Olympic glory this summer, and her coach admitted prior to last week’s final that it took its toll.
She won gold in the women’s welterweight final last week after a turbulent summer
Mohamed Chaoua said: ‘Imane has been greatly affected by this situation. (She said) “Why me?”
‘She has not surrendered to this campaign (of abuse). She has given them a lesson in ethics.’
Khelif’s coach went on to claim that his fighter has grafted hard to reach her level and is the victim of a power struggle for control of the sport, insisting that to his knowledge she is indeed a woman.
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