ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky reveals why he deleted controversial tweet amid Imane Khelif Olympics row as network fires Sam Ponder

By Isabel Baldwin

Published: | Updated:

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky explained his decision to delete a tweet in the wake of the Olympics gender row engulfing Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. 

Khelif became embroiled in the gender row at the Olympic Games this summer after being cleared to fight against women in Paris, despite being disqualified from the 2023 World Championship by the IBA after reportedly failing eligibility tests. 

After Italian boxer Angela Carini tearfully withdrew from her fight against Khelif in Paris, the Algerian faced criticism from a number of figures, including X and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Harry Potter author JK Rowling, despite her passport stating that she is female. 


Amid the controversy, Orlovsky was one of many to take to social media, posting: 'Protect our daughters.'

The former quarterback has since deleted the message, which has been used to criticize trans athlete inclusivity amid the Olympics row. 

Dan Orlovsky explained his decision to delete a tweet in the wake of the Olympics gender row

Dan Orlovsky explained his decision to delete a tweet in the wake of the Olympics gender row

The analyst wrote, 'protect our daughters' amid the controversy engulfing Imane Khelif

The analyst wrote, 'protect our daughters' amid the controversy engulfing Imane Khelif 

Orlovsky, one of ESPN's most highly regarded NFL analysts, admitted this week that his decision to remove the tweet stemmed from his representation of the network.

'When you're an employee of a big company, your social media page doesn't just get to be your social media page,' Orlovsky told Barrett Media. 

'That's a fantasy, so you have to represent yourself and the company that you work for in the proper way.' 

His comments come after ESPN fired Sam Ponder and Robert Griffin III just weeks before the start of the NFL season, in a double firing that has attracted accusations of 'wokeism'. 

The move comes after Griffin and Ponder, who are believed to have earned over $1million-a-year and still had multiple years left on their contacts, spoke out on Khelif - albeit with differing views. 

Ponder recently posted a comment on X about the gender controversy surrounding Khelif, a women's boxer accused of having XY chromosomes.

'XY= male XX= female,' Ponder wrote.

She is being released two years into her three-year, $3 million deal, but will receive her full salary, DailyMail.com has learned. Furthermore, the timing of the decision was dictated by the approaching end of the fiscal year on September 30, a source told DailyMail.com.

NFL Countdown host Sam Ponder was fired by the network earlier this week

NFL Countdown host Sam Ponder was fired by the network earlier this week 

ESPN did not fire Kirk Herbstreit, whose comments about trans women in sports were applauded by Ponder during an exchange on social media earlier this month

ESPN did not fire Kirk Herbstreit, whose comments about trans women in sports were applauded by Ponder during an exchange on social media earlier this month 

Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines accused the network of firing Ponder for her stance amid the trans athlete debate. 

'So ESPN fires @samponder, the only woman at the network who [has] publicly said men don't belong in women's sports 3 weeks before football season?' Gaines wrote on X, echoing comments from many others. 

Ponder wasn't the only ESPN personality to question the International Olympic Committee's decision to allow Khelif to compete as a woman.

Long-time college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit was asked on X if 'men belong in women's sports,' to which he replied: 'Of course not. Ridiculous question.'

Herbstreit has not been fired or publicly reprimanded by the network over the comment, which Ponder applauded online.

Khelif is not a transgender woman, but it has been claimed she has male XY chromosomes which led to her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships when she failed unspecified gender eligibility tests administered by the now-banned IBA.

Following the online protests of her participation at the Olympics, the boxer has filed a cyberbullying lawsuit in France which apparently names Musk and Rowling. 

Riley Gaines suggested that Ponder was fired over her opinion on trans women in sports

Riley Gaines suggested that Ponder was fired over her opinion on trans women in sports  

Angela Carini (right) forfeited her fight with Khelif after just 46 seconds at Roland Garros

Angela Carini (right) forfeited her fight with Khelif after just 46 seconds at Roland Garros

Khelif's arm was duly raised though Carini refused to shake hands with her victor after the bout

Khelif's arm was duly raised though Carini refused to shake hands with her victor after the bout

Khelif was paraded around the ring on the shoulders of her coach in front of hundreds of fans

Khelif was paraded around the ring on the shoulders of her coach in front of hundreds of fans

The fighter was also referred to as a 'man' by former US president Donald Trump, and Khelif admitted that she had been 'affected' by the 'noise'.

Speaking in France after winning gold, a tearful Khelif said: 'For eight years, this has been my dream, and I'm now the Olympic champion and gold medalist.

'That also gives my success a special taste because of those attacks. We are in the Olympics to perform as athletes, and I hope that we will not see any similar attacks in future Olympics.

'I'm fully qualified to take part in this competition. I'm a woman like any other woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified.'

Imane KhelifOlympicsParis