The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has sparked controversy by allowing Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting to compete in the Paris Olympics despite their disqualification from last year’s World Championships due to unspecified gender tests.
The decision has raised concerns about fairness and the integrity of the competition. Khelif’s opponent, Italy’s Angela Carini, forfeited her bout after two hard punches, claiming she feared her nose was broken.
The IOC defended its decision, stating that the athletes’ gender and age are based on their passports and that they comply with the eligibility regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU). The IOC also criticized the IBA’s sudden and arbitrary disqualification of the boxers.
IBA, however, maintains that its decision was based on a separate and recognized test that indicated the athletes had competitive advantages over other female competitors. The test results remain confidential.
The IOC emphasized that eligibility rules should not be changed during ongoing competition and that any rule changes must follow appropriate processes and be based on scientific evidence. The IOC also expressed concern about the abuse the athletes are receiving.
Khelif is set to face Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori in the 66kg quarter-finals on Saturday, while Yu-ting will meet Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova in the Round of 16 on Friday.
