End of season mailbag special
Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast and Stitcher, and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and email.
On the podcast today; Philippe begins with a little PSG and then the panel pick their moment of the season before moving on to transfer news including Liam Delap to Chelsea and the possibility of Bryan Mbuemo at Manchester United.
Elsewhere there's the Club World Cup and whether footballers, and more importantly, football podcasters will ever get some time off.
Plus, pedants corner, favourite parks and your questions answered.
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Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Why Imane Khelif is set to KEEP Olympic boxing gold medal, despite calls for title to be stripped after 'leaked medical report proving champion is a biological male'
A legal expert has revealed why Imane Khelif is unlikely to be stripped of her Olympic gold medal despite the emergence of a 'leaked' medical report. The alleged medical test on Khelif at the 2023 World Championships claimed that the boxer was in fact 'biologically male' and comes less than two days after World Boxing ruled Khelif would need to undergo sex screening to be eligible for any future appearances in female events. Last summer, Khelif was deemed eligible to compete in France despite World Boxing having known about the test, with IOC president Thomas Bach previously questioning the test's legitimacy. Despite the controversy surrounding Khelif, the 26-year-old went on to win a women's boxing gold medal representing Algeria boxing at the Paris Games. However, since the emergence of the reports about the 'leaked' medical report, critics have stepped forward and called for Khelif to be stripped of the medal. Now, a legal expert has revealed why that will not be the outcome and why Khelif will, instead, be allowed to keep the medal from Paris. Speaking to Newsweek, Doraine Lambelet Coleman, a Thomas L. Perkins Distinguished Professor of Laws at Duke Law School, explained: 'The IOC would not revoke medals won by athletes who were eligible according to the rules it set for the boxing competition in Paris. 'Unlike the eligibility rules set by the IBA and now WB, those rules did not require competitors to be biologically female.' One of those who called for Khelif to have the medal taken away was former Team GB star Sharron Davies who, during an interview with GB News, claimed: 'The truth was always there'. She explained: 'We all knew that this person had two positive sex screening tests. And the people that are to blame for all of this are the IOC. 'If you look back to those press conferences during the Olympic Games last summer, the things that Thomas Bach was saying are never excusable. They allowed male on female violence for the whole world to watch. 'The fact that they turned around and said that those tests that they had been informed about, a year prior, were not legitimate - when they were performed and accredited by the US College of Pathology. 'When people ask, do I have sympathy? No I don't because Khelif knew that they were biologically male. They knew they were cheating. 'They knew they had an unfair advantage and nobody cared. They didn't care what damage they might have inflicted on a female'. Davies also highlighted the moment which she believes proved that Khelif and her team 'knew' she was biologically male. During the interview, she said: 'All of that which you saw at the Olympic Games in Paris last year was an utter lie. 'You only had to see the pictures of Khelif up on the shoulders of their coaches afterwards to know this is not somebody they are treating as a female because they wouldn't have done that. 'Everyone knew and yet we were being lambasted. The people that were saying 'This is not fair and most importantly it's incredibly dangerous'. That's what - above and beyond everything - was criminal negligence, I think'. Khelif grew up in the northwestern rural town of Biban Mesbah in the Tiaret province of Algeria and was raised as a devout Muslim. In Islam it is forbidden for a believer to touch a member of the opposite sex that they are not related to. In a similar instance on Saturday night, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov - who is also a devout Muslim - refused to shake the hand of female TV presenter Kate Scott at the UEFA Champions League. In a similar response to the news, JK Rowling branded the news 'a win for women'. The document seen by 3 Wire Sports via Telegraph Sport, states: 'Chromosome analysis reveals male karyotype.' Rowling, who has weighed in heavy on the debate in the past, has taken to social media to give her view on the news. 'It's a win for women because they won't be battered to death in the ring by men,' wrote the Harry Potter series author. 'If you had any idea what physical tests women go through routinely in their lives you'd know a cheek swab is no bigger deal than flossing your teeth. Any more moronic questions, wing them over.' Broadcaster Piers Morgan was among the first to respond to reports of the test, writing on social media site X: 'The biology-denying woke brigade abused and shamed me for saying it was outrageous and dangerous for Khelif to be beating up women at the Olympics. 'I'm ready for their apology, but won't hold my breath.' Former Olympian Sharron Davies was similarly convinced by the report, writing: 'When did we stop believing in our eyes & gut! Oh yeah when we decided women's sport didn't matter…' Conservative activist Riley Gaines also weighed in, referring to Khelif with male pronouns and saying: 'To all the people that insisted Imane Khelif was a woman because his passport said so, 'You were wrong. We were right. Sincerely, People with functioning eyes and a shred of honesty.' The results reportedly have a date of being collected of March 17, 2023 - the same year that Khelif was disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA), the former governing body for the sport for 'failing gender eligibility tests'. It's a win for women because they won't be battered to death in the ring by men. If you had any idea what physical tests women go through routinely in their lives you'd know a cheek swab is no bigger deal than flossing your teeth. Any more moronic questions, wing them over. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 2, 2025 The document claims to have come from Dr Lal PathLabs in New Delhi, a laboratory which is accredited by the American College of Pathologists and certified by the International Organisation for Standardisation. The report was initially published by the journalist Alan Abrahamson, who first brought reports of Khelif's alleged failed gender eligibility test to public attention at the Paris Games. Mail Sport has contacted Khelif's representatives for comment. Khelief has previously stated that she planned to defend her gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in three years time. World Boxing does have some Olympic authority, as they have been announced to provisionally run testing for the Los Angeles games, with any person over 18 required to undergo PCR testing to determine their sex. The governing body said the PCR test is a laboratory technique used to detect specific genetic material, with the SRY gene revealing the presence of the Y chromosome, which is an indicator of biological sex. The test can be conducted by nasal/mouth swab, saliva or blood. The governing body said the testing will be part of a new policy on 'Sex, Age and Weight', which it claims will ensure a safe and competitive playing field. World Boxing revealed the contents of a letter sent to the Algerian Boxing Federation, confirming Khelif is unable to compete in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup or any World Boxing event until she undergoes sex testing. 'Imane Khelif may not participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup, 5-10 June 2025 and any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes genetic sex screening in accordance with World Boxing's rules and testing procedures,' the letter read. 'In accordance with the World Boxing Statutes, amendments to the Competition Rules are typically made by Congress. However, under special or emergency circumstances, the World Boxing Executive Board holds the authority to make immediate amendments when a rule is deemed no longer functional or when evolving conditions necessitate a change. 'In May 2025, the Executive Board exercised this authority and adopted new eligibility criteria for participation in sex-specific boxing categories. These new eligibility rules were developed with the express purpose of safeguarding athletes in combat sports, particularly given the physical risks associated with Olympic-style boxing. 'Please be advised that, per World Boxing policy, '…in the event the athlete's sex certification is challenged by the athlete's federation or by World Boxing, the athlete shall be ineligible to compete until the dispute is resolved…' Khelif was not the only controversial boxer in Paris, as Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting also won a gold medal in women's boxing despite having been banned by the IBA in 2023. Morgan previously weighed in on Khelif's alleged gender ineligibility in November, when a 'leaked' report published in German outlet Bild claimed that she was a 'biological male'. He posted to his 8.8m followers at the time: 'Confirmation of what some of us said at the time: Khelif is a biological man. The gold medal should now be stripped and awarded to the best actual woman.' It remains unclear whether the report was legitimate, with Algerian Olympic Committee calling out 'unsubstantiated allegations (which aimed) to tarnish the image of an athlete who has brought honor to our nation on the international stage.' Piers Morgan, Sharron Davies, and Riley Gaines were all quick to weigh in on the alleged results The report was initially put together in 2023 via collaboration between French and Algerian expert endocrinologists working at the Kremlin-Bicetre hospital in Paris, and the Mohamed Lamine Debaghine hospital in Algiers. The unverified report alleges that Khelif has male characteristics. But Jacques Young, an endocrinologist at Bicetre Hospital in Paris who reportedly co-authored the document, has told DW in Germany that he feels his name is being used to spread false information. Young also hinted he had been used to disseminate an anti-trans agenda. 'I think your statement perfectly reflects reality,' when he was asked whether his name was being used for those purposes.
Daily Mirror
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd star Bruno Fernandes gets brutal response after snubbing Saudi transfer
Ivan Toney has questioned whether Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has even 'seen the Saudi Pro League' after snubbing a huge offer to join Al-Hilal this summer Bruno Fernandes has been told that he has got the Saudi Pro League all wrong after declaring that he rejected a move to the Middle East because he wants to keep playing at an elite level. That's the verdict of Ivan Toney, who was asked about Fernandes' decision to stay at Manchester United. Toney, 29, moved to Saudi Arabia last summer to join Al-Ahli from Brentford in a transfer deal worth £40million despite interest from other clubs in the Premier League. After plundering 30 goals in 44 games for Al-Ahli, Toney was handed a surprise recall to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel ahead of the upcoming games against Andorra and Senegal. And the former Bees striker has questioned whether Fernandes has even 'seen the league' after being asked about the Portugal star's comments on the move. 'That's his decision. He maybe thinks it's different to me,' Toney said during an interview with talkSPORT while discussing Fernandes' decision to stay at Old Trafford. 'He obviously hasn't seen the league. The standard is high. I always say this, people always judge it on not seeing it, you know? And you have to see it first hand to have your own opinion. If people went there and went to some games, they'd soon realise. 'I know it's a good standard. You would never knock it once you've been there. It is tough.' Fernandes revealed earlier this week that he decided to reject a lucrative proposal from Al-Hilal after mulling things over with his wife. 'It was a very ambitious proposal," Fernandes said during a press conference ahead of Portugal's meeting with Germany. 'The president was a fantastic person. We never discussed the amount [initially]. With my agent? Of course. Then, I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career. She was someone who always supported me a lot. 'It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had Joao Cancelo there, my children are used to playing with him in the national team, we have a great friendship. 'But I want to maintain myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions, and I feel capable of it.'
Glasgow Times
12 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Trevoh Chalobah hoping his England career lasts longer than brother Nathaniel's
The Chelsea defender has received his maiden call-up for Thomas Tuchel's squad for forthcoming games against Andorra and Senegal following a successful season. He will be hoping to get on the pitch in the World Cup qualifier against the minnows in Barcelona on Saturday or the City Ground friendly against the African side three days later. His sibling Nathaniel, who currently plays for Sheffield Wednesday, won his one and only England cap in a Nations League win over Spain in 2018, appearing for six minutes and 54 seconds as a late substitute. And Trevoh is hoping that this is just the start for him. The 25-year-old said: 'When I found out I phoned my dad, spoke to my family, let them know, and they were over the moon for me also. And my older brother as well, Nathaniel. He was happy for me also. 'Obviously, him being here also, and to see his younger brother do the same, it was a very proud moment for him. And hopefully I can be here even more. 'It's been a journey for my parents. Obviously, they've seen the highs and lows, and they've been there every single step of the way. It's a good moment for them to share.' Nathaniel Chalobah, left, made his only appearance for England against Spain in 2018 (Nick Potts/PA) Chalobah is one of five Chelsea players in the squad and he knows boss Tuchel well as the German handed him his Stamford Bridge debut. It has been an impressive season for Chalobah as he starred on loan at Crystal Palace before returning to Chelsea to help the Blues to Conference League glory and Champions League qualification, with a trip to the United States for the Club World Cup still to come. He added: 'Individually for me, it's been a very good season. This has been one of my goals, and it's good to share with the Chelsea players. 'It just shows the quality that Chelsea produce and the players, it's good to be here with them also and share that moment. 'They've obviously eased me in here and helped me. As I said, it just shows the quality and the players Chelsea are producing this over the years, it's been amazing. 'I'm here, being called up to England, and it's going to keep carrying on hopefully.' While most of the England squad will be heading on holiday after the Senegal match, Chalobah and his Chelsea team-mates will be going to the US for the revamped Club World Cup. He said: 'This is the time after the internationals you probably want a holiday. But it's going to be physically tough, it's a different environment. 'But it's important, us as players want to be competing at the highest level and playing against very good teams. This is what footballers want to be doing, and hopefully getting a trophy.'
