Martina Navratilova (L) & Imane Khelif (R) (Image source: GETTY)

Martina Navratilova falling for an AI-generated image of Olympic-winning boxer Imane Khelif has outraged fans. The Algerian boxer’s gender identity caused a huge debate during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Though she was cleared by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), many still questioned the gender identity of the boxer as there was misinformation about her being transgender or intersex. Khelif had to bear the brunt of a lot of popular figures such as JK Rowling and Elon Musk.

Martina Navratilova had also vehemently questioned the participation of the Alegerian at the prestigious event and called her involvement ‘despicable and dangerous’.

The American has reignited the controversy as she recently shared an AI-generated image of Imane Khelif on X (formerly Twitter). Unaware of the fact that the image is digitally generated, Navratilova called the situation ‘just awful’.

“What we have been saying for months. And for calling his person a man or at least a male, we got called all kinds of names and most of all the women this male took medals and wins from. Just awful,” Navratilova tweeted.

Martina Navratilova has often expressed her dismay over biological males competing in women’s sports. However, fans didn’t take too kindly to the fact that she would use misinformation to prove her point.

One fan said that Navratilova was exhibiting transphobia.

“This is pure, unadulterated transphobia and she should not be near any microphone ever,” the fan commented.

Another fan questioned why the 68-year-old kept on incessantly attacking Khelif.

“That is not a real photo. Why do you keep hurting her,” the fan questioned.

Here are some other reactions from the fans.

“Sometimes personal biases get the best of you,” a fan thought.

“This is a photoshopped photo, Martina. I know you have strong feelings about this, but please don’t fall for and spread this garbage,” a fan stated.

“How embarrassing @TennisChannel – you got an employee out here sharing fake pictures of an athlete and inciting her hate as usual,” a fan called out.

“I always find this grandma’s views weird. She spent her whole career having her gender questioned for having male features, you’d expect her to be an advocate to stop this type of bullying on athletes but this is her take… *sigh*,” a fan opined.

“Imane might have been raised as a woman but is a biological male” – How Martina Navratilova revived the gender identity controversy

Martina Navratilova (Source: Getty)

Martina Navratilova reacted to an article posted by Reudxx on November 4, published by French journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia, who stated that a 2023 French-Algerian report found that Khelif had internal testicles and a ‘micropenis’.

Navratilova reshared the article on X and opined that though she may have been raised as a woman, Imane Khelif is a ‘biological male’ who shouldn’t have participated in the Olympics.

““And here we are- is Imane still suing JK Rowling? Good luck with that lawsuit. Imane might have been raised as a woman but Imane is a biological male and should not have been allowed to box at the Olympics,” Navratilova posted on X.

Martina Navratilova also discussed earlier how people felt that she had an advantage over her contemporaries just because she was gay.