The IOC warns of escalation and "culture war"
The outcry after Imane Khelif's first Olympic fight is loud and shrill. The IOC is desperately trying to control the debate about the Algerian boxer's gender after the match, with plenty of misinformation circulating.
The Olympic women's boxing is caught in a "culture war" due to the heated gender debate. IOC President Thomas Bach tried to smooth things over with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a meeting. Former US President Donald Trump, however, proposed a simple solution for the complex issue: "I will keep all men out of women's sports!" he declared on social media. The hour of populists has come, and they are loudly and shrillly shouting: "Men are beating up women in Paris."
In the midst of the emotionally charged debate about eligibility, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-Ting find themselves. They were approved by the International Olympic Committee for the women's competitions in Paris after being disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) at last year's World Championships for not meeting participation conditions regarding their gender. They reportedly failed a testosterone test, which was still stated in Khelif's Olympic profile on Thursday, but has since been removed, causing even more confusion.
The exact nature of the gender test conducted by the IBA remains unclear, and the non-recognized organization is not helping to clarify the situation. It's not about testosterone, but what it was about remains a mystery. The IOC is clear: Khelif and Lin are victims of a "random decision" made without "proper procedure." Moreover, Imane Khelif "was born a woman, registered as a woman, has always lived as a woman, has boxed as a woman, and her passport says she is a woman," said IOC spokesman Mark Adams firmly. He emphasized, "This is not a transgender case. It's not a case of a man fighting against a woman. There is scientific consensus on this."
IOC in Explain Mode
In the heated discussion, the IOC warned against escalation. "We must not turn this into a culture war, but think about the people affected by misinformation," said IOC spokesman Adams. Even the discussion about Khelif and Lin's gender is "a minefield," and the athletes could suffer psychological damage.
However, the IOC has also maneuvered itself into this dead-end situation with its unique approach to boxing. After numerous scandals, the IBA is no longer part of the Olympic family, and the new World Boxing organization lacks sufficient support to play an influential role in the sporting world. Therefore, the IOC is organizing the boxing competitions in Paris for the second time, but the "ring masters" don't seem well-prepared for such a complicated situation.
Mark Adams came under significant pressure during the daily Q&A session at the Palais des Congres today. The IOC, he said, is always trying to find a balance between inclusion, fairness, and safety. The safety of the athletes is always the top priority. And: The topic cannot be divided into "black and white." However, that ship has long sailed, and the IOC is now in explain mode.
Meanwhile, former world champion Amy Broadhurst of Ireland steps in to support Khelif. Broadhurst, who defeated Khelif at the 2022 Worlds, urged social media users to "stop the bullying". She doesn't believe Khelif "has done anything to 'cheat'", she wrote on X: "I think it's in her birth history and that's beyond her control." Broadhurst pointed out that Khelif has lost nine times to women, "that says it all", she wrote, and reminded that "nothing has been proven that this person is male". Even the defeated Italian Angela Carini now expresses understanding. "All these controversies have made me sad, and I feel sorry for my opponent, she had nothing to do with it, she was here to fight like me," Carini told "La Gazzetta dello Sport". IOC spokesman Adams had previously explained that the International Olympic Committee is "in very close contact with the athlete and her team". He also lamented the "horrible amount of abuse" online. Khelif is being "stigmatized and potentially pushed out of competition". On Saturday, the 25-year-old will face Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary in the quarter-finals of the 66kg class. With a win, she will secure a medal. Lin also still has a chance at a medal. She convincingly defeated the Uzbek Sitora Turdibekova 5:0.
The Olympic Games is the stage where this gender debate surrounding Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-Ting is unfolding. Amidst the controversy, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is emphasizing that Khelif's case is not a transgender one, but a misapplication of rules.
