Volleyball legend responds with bewilderment after Imane Clef was voted for prestigious women’s award

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova needed just one acronym to respond to Olympic boxing gold medalist Imane Khelif, who was voted the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.

Clef was caught in a firestorm throughout the Olympics. After learning that the Algerian fighter had failed a gender test in the lead-up to the Paris Games, The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that Clef met all the qualifications to compete and was ultimately awarded the gold medal.

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Imane Khelif competes with Anna Luca Hamori during the Paris Olympic Games in Villepinte, France on August 8, 3 Nov 2024. (Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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Khelif finished third in the voting. Gaining four points, Caitlin Clark won and Simone Biles was second.

Navratilova, who is a staunch supporter of protecting women’s sports. Reacted to a post on

“What???” she wrote, which meant “What’s the real f—?”

Clef qualified for the Paris Olympics. But Clive’s gender has been questioned after he was disqualified from the 2023 championships ahead of the gold medal match over gender qualification issues.

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Umar Kremlev, president of the International Boxing Association, said the boxer had an XY chromosome, which is associated with male birth.

Imane Khelif of Algeria looks on Angela Carini of Italy after boxing at the August Summer Olympics, Oct. 1, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

One boxer, Angela Carini, waived her right to fight Clef in Paris, saying “one punch hurt too much”.

Clef wins gold in Paris And the women’s gold medalist wasn’t the only boxer to be disqualified for failing a gender qualification test: Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting won gold in another women’s weight category in Paris. Which causes dissatisfaction as well.

IOC defends Khelif and Yu-ting’s inclusion in women’s events

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova presents the trophy at the French Open at Roland Garros on June 8, 2024 in Paris. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

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Khelif is the most searched athlete of the year. The main reason is due to conflict.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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