The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) has denied that Olympic champion Imane Khelif was stripped of her gold medal for failing gender eligibility tests, calling the reports obviously fake and ill-intentioned.
The 25-year-old Algerian caused controversy at this years Paris Olympics after it was revealed she was previously banned from the World Championships for allegedly failing a gender test.
Khelif, 25, who won gold in the Womens Welterweight this summer, is taking legal action over the alleged online harassment she received due to the gender row.
Now the controversy has seemingly been restarted following a report from an online sports blog claiming that Khelif had been given a lifetime ban from boxing by the WBO and stripped of her medal.
However, because Kehlif is an amateur boxer, the WBO would have no jurisdiction and the boxing authority has since denied all of the false claims.
The 25-year-old Algerian (pictured) caused controversy at this years Paris Olympics after it was revealed she was previously banned from the World Championships
Khelif, 25, who won gold in the Womens Welterweight this summer, is taking legal action over the alleged online harassment she received
Thailands Janjaem Suwannapheng and Algerias Imane Khelif (Blue) compete in the womens 66kg semi-final boxing match at this years Olympics
In a statement, the WBO said: The World Boxing Organisation has informed that it had not tested, nor has it banned female boxer Imane Khelif, who won a gold medal during the boxing tournament of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
The report claiming that the WBO had banned Khelif are obviously false.
We have had no communication with Khelif. We congratulate her and wish her luck in all her future endeavours.
WBO legal counsel Gustavo Olivieri added: Any report stating otherwise is obviously fake and ill-intentioned.
She worked hard to earn that medal.
The World Championships were run by the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA).
But it was later stripped of world governing body status by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over integrity and governance issues.
The IOC also questioned the credibility and legitimacy of the IBAs gender tests, saying they cannot be relied upon.
Imane Khelif of Team Algeria poses for a photo after winning the gold medal at this years Paris games
JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others, Khelifs lawyer wrote on X
Nabil Boudi told Variety that the Tesla mogul (pictured) and Harry Potter author were both named in the criminal complaint
Speaking after her Olympic victory, Khelif said she had been a victim of bullying and the IBA hate me and I really dont know why.
She added: I was born a woman. I have lived as a woman. I competed as a woman - there is no doubt about that.
Elon Musk and JK Rowling were named in a lawsuit filed to French authorities over the alleged acts of aggravated cyber harassment after they led an outcry at Khelifs participation in the Paris Olympics.
Nabil Boudi, the gold medalists Paris-based attorney, told Variety that the Tesla mogul and Harry Potter author were both named in the criminal complaint.
JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others, Boudi wrote on X, noting that Donald Trump would also be part of the investigation.
Possible repercussions for cyber-bullying offences in France are prison sentences ranging from two to five years and fines ranging from £26,000 to £39,000.
If prosecuted as online hate speech, perpetrators could even be fined £64,000 to £214,000.