Algerian boxer Imane Khelif moves toward gold despite misinformation around her gender

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is one match away from the gold medal in women’s welterweight boxing. It’s something she says she trained hard for over the last eight years. What she isn’t talking about is the controversy earlier in the games over her gender and eligibility fueled by misinformation and speculation.

The uproar was tied to an earlier championship in India where she and a Taiwanese boxer were deemed ineligible due to results from unspecified blood tests. The banning organization, the Russian IBA, never fully explained its decision.

Khelif, however, met all International Olympic Committee requirements to compete in Paris, even as international voices ranging from former President Donald Trump to author J.K. Rowling mischaracterized her as transgender or male.

Ina Fried is covering the games in Paris and joins host Scott Tong to dispel some of the misinformation surrounding Khelif.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.