- IOC warns of culture war in debate over Olympic female boxers
In the heated debate surrounding the admission of two boxers previously disqualified by the world governing body for the Olympic women's competitions, the IOC has warned against escalation. "We must not turn this into a culture war, but rather think of the people affected by misinformation," said IOC spokesperson Mark Adams. The discussion around the gender of Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan is "a minefield," and the athletes could suffer psychological harm.
Khelif's first fight in Paris on Thursday caused a stir. The 25-year-old was not allowed to compete in the World Championship final last year because the IBA, no longer recognized by the IOC, found elevated levels of the male sexual hormone testosterone in her. However, the IOC allowed both Khelif and Yu-Ting to participate in the Summer Games. "She was born a woman, lives as a woman, boxes as a woman, and is a woman according to her passport," Adams explained the decision.
Khelif won her opening bout against Italian Angela Carini by technical knockout in just 46 seconds. Afterwards, a fierce debate erupted about Khelif's participation. "Scientifically speaking, this is not a fight between a man and a woman," Adams emphasized.
IOC: Gender as stated in passport is decisive for participation
There is no simple explanation in this matter, neither scientifically nor politically is there a consensus in the gender debate. "If a consensus is reached, we would be the first to act on it," said the IOC spokesperson.
In many sports, the gender stated in the passport is decisive for admission to the competitions. In boxing, this rule has been applied at the Olympics since 2016 in Rio and 2021 in Tokyo, and it is also being applied in Paris.
The escalating debate over Khelif and Yu-Ting's participation could potentially escalate into a wider culture war. It's crucial to remember that the IOC urges against turning this issue into a cultural divide, focusing instead on the potential harm to the athletes.
Despite the lack of a clear scientific or political consensus on the gender debate, the IOC continues to adhere to the passport-determined gender policy in boxing competitions, aiming to maintain a fair and inclusive environment for all athletes.
