[Watch] Gender Row In Boxing: Know Why Olympic Body Is Backing Alegrian Boxer Imane Khelif

Paris: The International Olympic Committee has defended its move to allow two female boxers to compete at the Paris Olympics despite the ongoing gender row over Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who last year failed a gender eligibility test at the World Championships. Without taking names, the IOC stated that female athletes were facing ‘aggression’ because of an arbitrary decision.

The two female boxers in question are Khelif, who won her round of 16 welterweight bout over Italy’s Angela Carini in 46 seconds, and Taiwan’s double world champion Lin Yu-ting. Both have been cleared to compete in the Olympics.

How did the gender row trigger?

The gender row erupted after Khelif landed multiple punches in the first 30 seconds before a powerful right to Carini’s nose, prompting the latter to raise her hand and return to her corner. Later her coach signalled that she was withdrawing from the women’s welterweight round of 16 bout. Carini fell to her knees in the ring as she sobbed. She also declined to shake Khelif’s hand after the Algerian was declared winner.

Is Khelief a male boxer?

Khelief was disqualified at the 2023 World Championships after failing International Boxing Association (IBA) eligibility rules that prevent athletes with male XY chromosomes from competing in women’s events. However, the IOC stripped the IBA of its recognition last year over governance and finance issues. Several, including British author JK Rowling and billionaire Elon Musk, opposed her competing in the Games

What did the IOC say?

The IOC said the IBA decision to disqualify the boxers last year was arbitrary. “These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA,” the IOC said in a statement. “Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process,” the statement read.

The IOC claimed that according to the IBA minutes available on their website, the decision to not allow these athletes was initially taken solely by the IBA Secretary General and CEO. “The IBA Board only ratified it afterwards and only subsequently requested that a procedure to follow in similar cases in the future be established and reflected in the IBA Regulations. The minutes also say that the IBA should ‘establish a clear procedure on gender testing,” the statement read.

The IOC said the rules of eligibility were based on those of the Tokyo Games in 2021 and cannot be changed during a competition. “The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years,” the IOC said.

“The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently receiving,” it added. “Every person has the right to practice sport without discrimination,” the statement read.

What’s IBA’s countercharge?

However, IBA alleged ‘inconsistencies in eligibility’ at the Paris Games. “Both Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting post testing, did not meet the required eligibility criteria to compete within the female category of our respective events,” the body stated, as per a Reuters report. The IBA defended its decision by stating that it was needed to ensure the safety of the boxers.

What science says?

According to medical experts, differences in Sexual Disorders are a group of rare conditions involving genes, hormones and reproductive organs. Some people with DSDs are raised as female. But, they have XY sex chromosomes and blood testosterone levels in the range of males. In case of some sports, the levels of testosterone allowed for athletes competing in women’s competition are limited.