The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stood its ground amid rising tensions over Olympic boxing's controversial gender policies.
The IOC has come to the defence of Algerian boxer Imane Kherif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting amid a gender controversy rocking the 2024 Summer Olympics. The two athletes were disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing gender eligibility tests at the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi, India. according to In the New York Post.
IOC defends Imane Khelif in Olympic boxing gender debate https://t.co/2S5bbO4jQi pic.twitter.com/AeVowsd3Pp
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) August 1, 2024
Matters were exacerbated when Khelif's opponent, Italy's Angela Carini, withdrew from the match just 46 seconds into the match, according to the New York Post, prompting the IOC to criticize the IBA's actions as “arbitrary” and lacking due process.
“We have become aware of misleading information published about two female athletes who will compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” the IOC said in a statement. statement“Both fighters have competed in international boxing competitions over the years in the women's division, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships and IBA-sanctioned tournaments.” (Related article: “This isn't fair”: Two-time gold medallist reacts to “horrifying” Olympic boxing match between biological male and female)
The IOC stressed that Khelif and Lin were victims of a sudden decision made by the IBA Secretary General and CEO without due process. “Towards the end of the 2023 IBA World Championships, they were suddenly disqualified without due process,” the statement continued.
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 1, 2024: Imane Kherif of team Algeria and Angela Carini of team Italy exchange punches during the women's 66 kg qualification round on day six of the 2024 Olympic Games at North Paris Arena in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
“The current attack against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was made without due process, particularly given that these two athletes have competed together at the highest level of competition for many years.”
The IOC also stressed that eligibility rules should not be changed while a competition is in progress and that any rule changes must follow due procedures and be based on scientific evidence, underscoring the need for consistent and fair application of the rules in international sporting events.
