Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has delivered a scathing one-word verdict on Imane Khelif taking third place in the Associated Press' Female Athlete of the Year award. The AP's journalists and members sparked outrage earlier this week after giving the controversial Olympics boxer third place behind Caitlin Clark and Simone Biles.
![[Tennis legend Martina Navratilova delivered a scathing one-word verdict on the decision]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/01/93508753-14228855-image-a-1_1735263140477.jpg)
The Algerian took gold in the women's welterweight competition at this summer's Games in Paris. But it sparked major controversy after the International Boxing Association said Khelif had been disqualified from last year's World Championships for failing gender eligibility criteria.
Despite that disqualification Khelif was cleared to compete by the International Olympic Committee, who ran the Olympic boxing tournament and its entry criteria. Her first opponent in Paris, Italian fighter Angela Carini, signaled she could not continue with their bout just 46 seconds in and said she 'had never felt a punch like this'.
The AP sparked outrage after giving Imane Khelif third place in their Female Athlete of the Year. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova delivered a scathing one-word verdict on the decision. Despite the controversy that marred the Games, a group of 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members still voted to honor Khelif this week.
Clark received 35 votes for her stunning impact on women's basketball in 2024, Olympic gymnast Biles was second with 25 and Khelif was third, getting four votes. Navratilova, who has been a fierce critic of threats to women's sports in recent months, reacted furiously on social media.
