After Pat McAfee promoted false narratives about the gender of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, his ESPN colleague Shannon Sharpe took a more informed approach.
Khelif has been at the center of a global controversy following her victory over Italy’s Angele Carini in their women’s welterweight match at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The win sparked unfounded claims that Khelif was genetically male. McAfee exacerbated these rumors during a five-minute rant on his ESPN show, despite admitting, “I haven’t done enough research” on the topic.
In contrast, Shannon Sharpe demonstrated a commitment to accuracy on his Nightcap podcast with co-host Chad Johnson.
“She was born a woman,” Sharpe stated unequivocally. “Transgender people are fighting for rights, and when they go to Capitol Hill, these senators and representatives ask doctors very specific questions. ‘Can this woman have a child?’ Yes, she can. So how is she not a woman? Biologically and anatomically, how is she not a woman?”
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Sharpe went on to reference Caster Semenya, a South African middle-distance runner and two-time Olympic gold medalist known for naturally high levels of testosterone. Semenya has faced significant challenges and restrictions in her career due to her natural biology.
“They wanted her to take blockers to reduce her natural testosterone. You don’t want me to take PEDs to enhance my performance, but you want me to take something to suppress what I naturally produce?” Sharpe questioned. “Everyone says God made you man or woman. He made her like this. Not every man has the same level of testosterone, but if he’s born with those parts, is he any less of a man? If a woman is born with those parts and produces high testosterone, does that make her any less of a woman?”
Johnson, initially misinformed by social media, expressed surprise at learning Khelif is a woman. “On Twitter, I’ve seen all these clips saying the boxer was transgender and a man,” he remarked.
Sharpe countered these misconceptions, emphasizing, “She’s not identifying as a woman; she is a woman.”
Khelif competed in the 2020 Olympics, losing in the quarterfinals without incident. It wasn’t until 2023 that her gender became controversial, following her disqualification from the world championships due to an International Boxing Association (IBA) test. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) defers to the gender listed on an athlete’s passport, and Algeria, where it is illegal to be transgender, would not issue a passport with a gender different from the one assigned at birth.
Sharpe and Johnson then transitioned into a broader discussion about transgender athletes, clarifying that Khelif’s situation is distinct and should not be conflated with the broader debate. They underscored the importance of accurate representation and the harm caused by spreading misinformation.
In this era of instantaneous information sharing, Sharpe’s diligence in verifying facts serves as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with a public platform.
His approach contrasts sharply with McAfee’s and highlights the need for careful consideration and research when discussing sensitive issues like gender and identity in sports.
