IOC President Responds to Gender Controversy Over Algerian, Taiwanese Boxers at Paris Olympics

Paris, Todaysgist.com – International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has responded to the gender controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s two-time world champion Lin Yu-ting competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bach stressed that both are female boxers and have every right to compete at the Paris Games.

Both boxers were allowed to compete at the Paris Olympics despite being disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after failing to meet International Boxing Association (IBA) eligibility rules that prohibit athletes with male XY chromosomes from competing in women’s events.

The IOC last year stripped the IBA of its status as boxing’s governing body over governance issues, and took over the Paris 2024 boxing competition.

“We are talking about women’s boxing. We have two boxers who were born as women, raised as women, who have women’s passports and have competed for many years as women and this is a clear definition of a woman,” Thomas Bach said in a press conference, Saturday (3/8/2024).

“There was never any doubt that they were women,” he said.

The IOC said the IBA’s decision to disqualify the pair last year was arbitrary and was a major factor in the furore that swept through social media and saw the likes of JK Rowling and Elon Musk voice their opposition to the Games.

Khelif defeated Angela Carini of Italy in the round of 16 of their welterweight bout. The Italian lasted just 46 seconds in the ring. The Algerian’s dominant performance further heated up the debate.

The IBA on Friday promised to pay boxers who lose to Khelif $50,000 (around Rp 808 million) in prize money.

Bach said the IBA’s actions amounted to a defamation campaign. The IBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“They have launched a defamation campaign against France, against the Olympics, against the IOC, long before these Olympics,” Bach said.

IBA President Umar Kremlev, a Russian businessman, has repeatedly posted inflammatory comments on social media against Bach and the IOC over the decision to allow the pair to compete in the Olympics.

“I would like to ask everyone to respect these women, respect them as women and as human beings,” Bach said.

“When you talk about human rights, then you have the human rights of every woman to participate in women’s competitions,” she stressed.

Khelif’s father Amar said he was proud of his daughter and supported her to win a medal for Algeria.

Bach said the IOC wanted to keep boxing at the Olympics given the social role it plays, especially for disadvantaged communities, but a new global body must be created.

Boxing is one of the most global sports, a sport with very high social values. In any country, many boxers tend to come from underprivileged sections of society and boxing offers many opportunities for them, not only on the pitch but also off the pitch,” he explained.