Written by Matt Bozeat
THOMAS Bach, who is the President of the International Olympic Committee, says he wants to see evidence that Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting should not compete in women's boxing events in Paris.
The Hungarian Boxing Federation and the Bulgarian Olympic Committee contacted the IOC to oppose the inclusion of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting in the Paris Olympics.
Khelif (Algeria) will face Luca Anna Hamori of Hungary today (4.20pm) and Lin will meet Svetlana Kamenova Staneva of Bulgaria tomorrow morning (10.0am).
Staneva yesterday eliminated Michaela Walsh from Ireland.
The Hungarian Boxing Federation issued a statement that read as follows: “A few hours ago, our federation informed the Hungarian Olympic Games Committee of our objection to the participation of the Algerian athlete, who was excluded from the 2023 World Championships after the results of the biological tests failed. .”
Lin Yu-Ting failed the same test at the same tournament, run by the International Boxing Association, who were barred from Olympic boxing after concerns about corruption and sponsorship.
Bach said the IBA had led a “discrediting campaign against France, the Games, the IOC” and questioned the “credibility” of their evaluations.
He said: “We have two boxers who were born as women, raised as women, have a passport as a woman and have been competing as a woman for many years and this is a clear definition of a woman. There was no doubt that they were a woman.
“What we see now is that there are those who want to have a definition of who a woman is.
“I would invite them to come up with a new scientifically based definition of who a woman is and how a person who was born, brought up and competed and has a passport as a woman cannot be considered a woman.
“If they come up with something, we are ready to listen and look into it.
“But we will not participate in a culture war motivated by politics. What is happening on social media with the abuse that is fueled by this agenda is absolutely unacceptable.”
Bach said the “framework” of proving eligibility “needs testing” and added: “You can't have a poll on social media: 'Do you think this is a woman or not a woman?' Everyone in our world is apparently bound to say anything without considering complex situations at times.”
Hamori raised the issue through a social media site that showed him facing a painful monster with horns, which led some to say that the 23-year-old should be withdrawn from the Olympics.
Hamori's opening contest at the Paris Nord Arena was a points win over Ireland's Grainne Walsh.
It is not clear which IBA tests Khelif and Yu-Ting failed.
The IOC said in a statement that Khelif and Yu-Ting were “suddenly expelled without due process.”
Social media erupted after Italy's Angela Carini conceded 46 seconds into her last 16 clash with Khelif on Thursday.
There have been many unfounded claims that the 25-year-old Algerian is “biologically male” or “transgender.”
Carini dropped to his knees and hit the canvas with his fists after the fight.
He had turned twice in his corner after feeling the weight of Khelif's fists.
Carini then said that he was beaten so hard that he could not even breathe.
Carini apologized that Khelif's criticism made him “sad,” adding: “If the IOC says he can fight, I respect that decision.”
The President of the IBA, Umar Kremlev, predicted that he had taken moral responsibility regarding the storm in Paris, issuing a statement that included him saying: “I don't understand why they are killing women's boxing. Only qualified athletes should enter the ring for their safety.”
Amy Broadhurst, the Irish midfielder who defeated Khelif in the final of the 2022 World Championship in Istanbul, wrote: “The IBA has issued a statement that two boxers have failed gender tests in the past year.
“All that is good, but where are the results?
“They haven't been published yet so people just believe what is said. Remember the IBA was banned from having anything to do with the Olympics so it was the perfect time for them to kick up a storm. During the Olympic Games.
“I don't agree with Male Vs Female. I never will because it's not right. But the abuse this person received in the last 24 hours without any real facts or evidence is very wrong!! Please remember what to do if your child is faced with a situation like this.
“Wait for the facts, wait for the results to be known and express your opinion but stop bullying!”
The Bulgarian Olympic Committee issued a statement that reads: “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 competition at the Paris Games.
“In the past, these two boxers failed gender tests and were suspended from participating in women's boxing competitions and now inexplicably they are in the program of the Olympic Games in Paris among women,” the BOC noted, adding:
“We are determined to protect the rights not only of the Bulgarian people, but of all female athletes who may be harmed by the participation of representatives of the opposite sex in women's competitions.
“Furthermore, we express our concern for the health of female athletes, as it has been scientifically proven that men's boxing is more powerful than women's and can lead to serious injuries and permanent trauma.”
Boxing Canada released a statement supporting the IOC and its procedures.
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