The Associated Press is facing backlash after awarding third place in its Female Athlete of the Year rankings to Olympic boxer Imane Khelif of Algeria, Breitbart reported.

WNBA star Caitlin Clark secured the top spot, and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles earned second place.

Khelif was unwittingly thrust into a worldwide clash over gender identity and regulation in sports after her first fight, when Italian opponent Angela Carini pulled out just seconds into the match, citing pain from opening punches. False claims that Khelif was transgender or a man erupted online, and the International Olympic Committee defended her and denounced those peddling misinformation.

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