IOC President: Prove boxers at centre of Olympic storm aren’t women

THOMAS Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), says he wants to see proof that Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting should not be able to compete in the female boxing events in Paris.

Both the Hungarian Boxing Federation and Bulgaria’s Olympic Committee contacted the IOC to object about the inclusion of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting in the Paris Olympics.

Khelif (Algeria) takes on Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori today (4.20pm) and Lin meets Svetlana Kamenova Staneva of Bulgaria tomorrow morning (10.00am).

Staneva yesterday put out Ireland’s Michaela Walsh.

The Hungarian Boxing Federation issued a statement that read: “In the last few hours, our federation has notified the Hungarian Olympic Committee of our objections to the participation of the Algerian athlete, who was disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after a failed biological test result.”

Lin Yu-Ting failed a similar test at the same championship, run by the International Boxing Association, who have been banned from running Olympic boxing after concerns over corruption and funding.

Bach said the IBA have led a “defamation campaign against France, the Games, the IOC” and questioned the “credibility” of their tests.

He said: “We have two boxers who are born as women, have been raised as women, they have passports as women and have competed for many years as women and this is the clear definition of a woman. There was never any doubt about them being women.

“What we see now if some want to own the definition of who is a woman.

“I can only invite them to come up with a scientific based new definition of who is a woman and how can someone being born and raised and competed and have a passport as a woman cannot be considered a woman.

“If they are coming up with something, we are ready to listen, to look into it. 

“But we will not take part in a politically-motivated culture war. What is going on in social media with the abuse fuelled by this agenda is totally unacceptable.”

Bach did say the “framework” to prove eligibility “needs to be evaluated” and added: “You can’t have a poll on social media: ‘Do you think this is a woman or not a woman ?’ Every person in our world is apparently obliged to say anything without considering the sometimes very complex circumstances.”   

Hamori inflamed the situation with a social media post that showed her facing a muscular monster with horns, leading to some saying the 23 year old should be withdrawn from the Olympics.

Hamori’s opening contest at the Paris Nord Arena was a majority points win over Ireland’s Grainne Walsh.

It remains unclear what tests were conducted by IBA 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 erupted after Italy’s Angela Carini surrendered 46 seconds into her last-16 clash with Khelif on Thursday.

There have been numerous unfounded claims the 25 year old from Algeria is “biologically male” or “transgender.”

Carini dropped to her knees and pounded the canvas with her fists after the bout ended.

Twice she had turned to her corner after feeling the weight of Khelif’s punches.

Carini afterwards said she had been hit so hard she couldn’t breathe.

Carini has since apologised by saying the backlash against Khelif had made her “sad,” adding: “If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.”

IBA President Umar Kremlev has predictably taken the moral high ground over the storm in Paris, releasing a statement that included him saying: “I do not understand why they kill women’s boxing. Only eligible athletes should compete in the ring for the sake of safety.”

Amy Broadhurst, the Irish southpaw who beat Khelif in the 2022 World Championship final in Istanbul, posted: “IBA released the statement that two boxers failed a gender test over a year ago. 

“That’s all well and good but where are the results? 

“They haven’t been published yet so people are just believing what’s been said. Bear in mind IBA were banned from having anything to do with the Olympics so what a brilliant time for them to kick up a storm. During the Olympic Games.

“I do not agree with Male vs Female. I never will because it’s wrong. But the abuse this person has received in the last 24 hours without any real facts or proof is so wrong!! Please keep in mind if your child was going through something like this, what would you do?

“Wait for facts, wait for the results to become known and then make your opinion but stop the bullying!”

The Bulgarian Olympic Committee released a statement that read: “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 Games in Paris. 

“Some time ago, the two boxers did not pass the gender tests and were suspended from participating in women’s boxing tournaments and now inexplicably how they are in the program of the Olympic Games in Paris among women,” BOC point out, adding:

“We are firmly determined to defend the rights not only of the Bulgarian, but of all female athletes who will be potentially harmed by the participation of representatives of the opposite sex in women’s competitions.

“In addition, we express our concern for the health of female athletes, as it has been scientifically proven that men’s punches are much stronger than women’s and can result in severe injury and permanent trauma.”

Boxing Canada issued a statement backing the IOC and its procedures.