IOC responds to boxing gender test scandal at Paris Olympics
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The International Olympic Committee has justified its choice to permit two boxers who did not pass a gender eligibility test to participate in the Paris 2024 games.
Algeria's Imane Khelif was not able to compete in the gold-medal match at the women's World Championships in New Delhi last year because she did not meet the International Boxing Association's eligibility rules. These rules say that athletes with male XY chromosomes are not allowed to compete in women's events. Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, a double world champion, also lost her bronze medal at the same competition for not meeting the criteria.
However, the International Boxing Association (IBA) lost its official recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to concerns about how it was managed and financed. As a result, the IOC took over the boxing competition at the Paris Olympics and opened it up to female athletes as well.
Khelif delivered a strong hit to her rival, Angela Carini of Italy, during their fight on Thursday, causing Carini to surrender after just 46 seconds. Following Khelif's win, Carini fell to her knees, shedding tears.
Carini was also heard telling her coach, "This isn't fair, this isn't fair!" before quickly exiting the arena. Carini experienced a possible broken nose and the 25-year-old informed reporters that she had never been hit so forcefully in her professional career.
Lin is set to participate in the Olympics on Friday.
Carini's defeat raised worry and frustration among not just those in the boxing community, but also the general public. Prominent figures like JK Rowling and Elon Musk spoke out against the duo participating in the Games. However, the IOC defended the pair, stating that they were being unfairly targeted due to a decision made by the IBA.
At the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were unexpectedly disqualified without proper procedures," stated the IOC. The decision was originally made by the IBA Secretary General and CEO, as seen in the minutes on their website.
Some sports have set restrictions on the amount of testosterone that female athletes can have when competing, while others exclude individuals who have gone through male puberty.
Sexual disorders are a set of uncommon conditions that affect genes, hormones, and reproductive organs. Some individuals with DSDs may be brought up as females, despite having XY chromosomes and testosterone levels typically found in males.
The IOC stated that the eligibility criteria are the same as those for the Tokyo Games in 2021 and cannot be altered once the competition has begun.
The attacks against these two athletes are solely based on this random decision, which was made without any proper process, despite the fact that these athletes have been competing at a high level for many years.
The IOC is upset about the mistreatment that the two athletes are currently facing. They also mentioned that everyone should be able to participate in sports without facing any discrimination.
According to the IBA, they criticized the "irregularities in qualifications" during the Paris Games.
"Both Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting were unable to meet the necessary requirements to compete in the women's category of our events," the organization stated.
The decision to disqualify the boxers was necessary because the safety of our boxers is our first concern.
More information gathered by Reuters
