With the 2024 Olympics well in the rearview, misinformation about gold medal-winning boxer Imane Khelif is more subdued, but not gone.
“Breaking: Elon Musk decides to withdraw support for WBO programs unless her medal and $25 million bonus are revoked..” a Nov. 25 Facebook post said, referring to the World Boxing Organization. “See on the comment below.”
A comment on the post led to an undated blog post on a page titled “PrayAmerica.”
The blog post, a single paragraph, said: “Elon Musk has announced he will withdraw support for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) unless Imane Khelif’s controversial medal and $25 million bonus are revoked. Khelif, a rising boxing star, received the award after an unprecedented victory, but critics argue the bonus is excessive and raises questions of favoritism. Musk called the decision ‘a dangerous precedent,’ stating it undermines boxing’s integrity. The WBO faces pressure as Musk’s financial backing supports key programs. The controversy has sparked intense debate, with many questioning fairness and ethics in the sport while highlighting Musk’s significant influence on boxing governance.”
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We found no credible evidence, such as news stories, public statements from Musk or the World Boxing Organization, or press releases to support this claim.
The World Boxing Organization manages professional boxing competitions; Khelif has competed primarily in amateur boxing, which a separate organization, the International Boxing Association, governs.
As we reported when fact-checking false claims that Khelif was “stripped of all titles,” received a “lifetime ban,” and had $25 million in prize money revoked, Khelif drew public scrutiny during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics following widespread claims that she was transgender.
The claims stemmed from the Russian-led International Boxing Association disqualifying Khelif from competing in the 2023 World Championships after saying she failed to meet the gender eligibility requirements to compete in women’s sports following a blood test. But the International Olympic Committee suspended the International Boxing Association in 2019 over governance and judging concerns and fully revoked the group’s recognition in 2023.
The International Olympic Committee’s Boxing Unit affirmed Khelif was eligible to compete in women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics. An Olympic Committee statement described the International Boxing Association’s decision as “sudden,” “arbitrary” and made without “due process.”
Khelif, from Algeria, beat Italy’s Angela Carini during the Games, but the International Boxing Association awarded $50,000 in prize money to Carini instead.
We don’t know where the $25 million figure comes from. The International Olympic Committee doesn’t award prize money for winning medals, though several countries do. CNBC published the payout amounts from several countries, with the highest sum coming from Hong Kong: $768,000 for a gold medal.
In a criminal complaint filed with French authorities, Khelif named Musk and claimed she was cyberbullied. Musk shared on X a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that said, “men don’t belong in women’s sports.”
But claims that Musk threatened to withdraw purported support for the World Boxing Organization unless Khelif lost her medal and $25 million are unfounded. We rate them False.
