Associated Press journalists and their members have sparked outrage after giving controversial Olympic boxer Imane Khelif third place in their Female Athlete of the Year award.
The Algerian She took gold in the women's welterweight competition at this summer's Games in Paris.
But it sparked widespread controversy after the International Boxing Association said Khelif had been disqualified from last year's World Championships for not meeting gender eligibility criteria.
Despite that disqualification, Khelif was cleared to compete by the International Olympic Committee, which governed the Olympic boxing tournament and its entry criteria.
Her first opponent in Paris, Italian fighter Angela Carini, signaled she could not continue her fight just 46 seconds later and said she had “never felt a blow like this.”
Despite the controversy that marred the Games, a group of 74 Associated Press sportswriters and their members voted to honor Khelif this week.
The Associated Press has sparked outrage after awarding Imane Khelif third place in its Female Athlete of the Year award.
The Algerian controversially won the women's welterweight competition at the Olympic Games
Caitlin Clark was named the winner for her surprising impact on women's basketball thanks to a sublime senior year in college and her debut WNBA season, while Simone Biles came in second.
Clark received 35 votes, Olympic gymnast Biles was second with 25 and Khelif third, with four votes.
However, that decision has sparked outrage on social media.
In response to the news, one fan wrote: “This is so wrong on so many levels.”
Another commented: 'This is pathetic. We are destroyed as a society!'
A third posted: 'The world has gone mad!'
Others simply wrote “disgusting” and “ridiculous.”
“This is a shame for women,” added another.
Another user wrote: 'What a shame'
Khelif is currently taking legal action over media reports that allegedly detailed his leaked medical records.
Reports published in France last month claimed that the 25-year-old has XY (male) chromosomes.
Khelif filed a legal complaint with French authorities over the online abuse and harassment she was subjected to during the Games and the IOC revealed it is also taking action on reports that emerged in France.
Earlier this month, Donald Trump vowed to end the “transgender craze” in women's sports when he returns to office, stressing that the issue is a priority for when he is president again.
Speaking at AmericaFest in Arizona, Trump said: “With a stroke of my pen on Day 1, we are going to stop the transgender madness.”
'And I will sign executive orders to end child mutilation, remove transgender people from the military and from our elementary, middle and high schools.
'And we will keep men out of women's sports. And that will also be done on day 1. Should I do day 1, day 2 or day 3? How was day 1?
'Under the Trump administration, the official policy of the United States government will be that there are only two genders: male and female. It doesn't seem too complicated. Does it?'
Khelif's first opponent in Paris, Italian fighter Angela Carini, ended her fight just 46 seconds later.
Trump didn't offer any more details about what he plans to sign into law, but given his inauguration on January 20, people won't have to wait too long to find out.
Trump campaigned hard on his disdain for trans athletes competing in women's sports, especially during the Olympics earlier this year.
He targeted Khelif, who is not transgender but allegedly failed a gender eligibility test, and mocked his participation in the event. He said: 'Who wants men to participate in women's sports?
'I would like to congratulate the young woman who has evolved from a man to a woman. He… She won the gold.
Trump referenced Khelif fighting Italian boxer Angela Carini, saying: “What about the woman, the beautiful woman, from Italy?
“She walked in there and had no idea what was going on. She's a very good boxer, but only against other women.
'He did this (acts like a punch). She immediately, wow, no one has ever hit me so hard.
“Then he does it again and she immediately gives up.”
Earlier this month, Donald Trump promised to end the “transgender craze” in women's sports.
Khelif responded to Trump's mockery after the Olympics, saying: “Right afterward there was a lot of noise from politicians, athletes, stars, artists: Elon Musk and Donald Trump, and that hurt me a lot, I can't describe how scared I was.” .
'This affected me. I'm not lying to you, it affected me a lot. It hurt me a lot. I can't describe the fear I had but thank God I was able to overcome it.
“Thank God, all the people of Algeria and the Arab world knew Imane Khelif with her femininity, her courage, her will.”