THOMAS Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), says he wants to see evidence that Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting should not be allowed to compete in women’s boxing events in Paris.
Both the Hungarian Boxing Federation and the Bulgarian Olympic Committee contacted the IOC to protest the inclusion of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting in the Paris Olympics.
Today Khelif (Algeria) will play against Luca Anna Hamori of Hungary (16:20) and Lin will play against Svetlana Kamenova Staneva of Bulgaria tomorrow morning (10:00).
Yesterday Staneva brought out Ireland’s Michaela Walsh.
The Hungarian Boxing Federation issued the following statement: “In the past few hours, our federation has informed the Hungarian Olympic Committee of our objection to the participation of the Algerian athlete, who was excluded from the 2023 World Championships after an unsatisfactory biological test result.”
Lin Yu-Ting failed a similar test at the same championships organised by the International Boxing Association, which has been banned from organising Olympic boxing following corruption and sponsorship concerns.
Bach said the IBA had led a “defamation campaign against France, the Olympics, the IOC” and questioned the “credibility” of its tests.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
“We have two fighters who were born women, raised women, have women’s passports and have been fighting for years as women and that is the very definition of women. There was never any doubt that they were women,” he said.
“What we see now is whether anyone wants to hold the definition of womanhood.
“I can only invite them to come up with a new, scientifically-based definition of what a woman is and why someone who is born, raised, competes and has a passport as a woman cannot be considered a woman.
“If they have any ideas, we are willing to listen and consider them.
“But we will not engage in a politically motivated culture war. What is happening on social media with this agenda-driven abuse is completely unacceptable.”
Bach said the “framework” for proving eligibility “needs to be evaluated,” adding: “You can’t have a poll on social media: ‘Do you think this is a woman or not a woman?’ People in our world seem to be obliged to say whatever they want without taking into account sometimes very complicated circumstances.”
Hamori escalated the situation with a social media post showing her facing off against a horned muscle monster, leading some to suggest the 23-year-old should be disqualified from the Games.
Hamori’s opening match at the Paris Nord Arena was a dominant points win over Ireland’s Grainne Walsh.
It is not yet clear what tests the IBA conducted that Khelif and Yu-Ting failed.
The IOC said in a statement that Khelif and Yu-Ting were “suddenly disqualified without any due process”.
Social media exploded after Italy’s Angela Carini retired in the 46th second of her last-16 tie with Khelif on Thursday.
There have been numerous unfounded claims that the 25-year-old man from Algeria is “biologically male” or “transgender”.
Carini knelt down and slammed his hands on the floor after the match ended.
She twice returned to her corner after feeling the weight of Khelif’s punches.
Carini later said she was beaten so hard she could not breathe.
Carini later apologised, saying the backlash against Khelif left her “sad”, adding: “If the IOC says she can compete, I respect that decision”.
IBA president Umar Kremlev predictably took a moral stand during the storm in Paris, issuing a statement that included his quote: “I don’t understand why they are killing women’s boxing. Only qualified athletes should compete in the ring for safety reasons.”
Amy Broadhurst, the Irish left-hander who beat Khelif in the 2022 World Championships final in Istanbul, posted: “The IBA has issued a statement saying two boxers failed gender testing over a year ago.
“That’s all well and good, but what about the results?
“They haven’t been released yet so people are just taking what they’re told. Remember the IBA has been banned from any Olympic-related activity so it’s a great time for them to stir up a storm. During the Olympics.
“I don’t agree with Male vs Female. I never will because it’s wrong. But the abuse this person has been subjected to over the last 24 hours without any facts or actual evidence is wrong!! Remember if your child was going through something like this, what would you do?
“Wait for the truth, wait for the results to be announced then give your opinion but stop the bullying!”
The Bulgarian Olympic Committee issued the following statement: “We are concerned about the participation of Imane Khelif from Algeria (66 kg) and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan (57 kg) in the women’s boxing tournament at the Olympics in Paris.
“Some time ago, these two boxers failed the gender test and were banned from participating in women’s boxing tournaments and now they are inexplicably included in the women’s Olympic program in Paris,” the BOC pointed out, adding:
“We are determined to protect the interests not only of Bulgarians but also of all female athletes who are potentially harmed by the participation of representatives of the opposite sex in women’s competitions.
“In addition, we express concern for the health of female athletes because science has proven that men’s punches are much more powerful than women’s and can cause serious and permanent injuries.”
Boxing Canada has issued a statement in support of the IOC and its procedures.
