Olympic boxing scandal: Khelif and Lin spark controversy
Gender eligibility debate intensifies as boxers advance in Paris
Daily TribuneGender eligibility debate intensifies as boxers advance in Paris
Algeria's Imane Khelif (in red) punches Italy's Angela Carini in the women's 66kg preliminaries round of 16 boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena, in Villepinte on 1 August 2024.
MOHD RASFAN / AFP
The Paris Olympics boxing competition has been rocked by a major scandal involving Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese athlete Lin Yu-ting. Khelif's swift 46-second victory over Italy's Angela Carini has sparked a fierce debate over gender eligibility in sports, as both Khelif and Lin were previously disqualified from the 2023 world championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing gender eligibility tests. Despite this, both athletes were cleared to compete in Paris under the oversight of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has replaced the IBA in managing the boxing events.
The controversy has attracted significant attention from politicians and celebrities, with notable figures such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US presidential candidate Donald Trump weighing in on the debate. Critics argue that the participation of Khelif and Lin in the women's competition represents an unfair advantage, while others stress that the issue is not about transgender identities but rather about the adequacy of current gender eligibility criteria. The IOC has defended its decision, emphasizing that gender is determined by the information on athletes' passports and acknowledging that the issue is complex.
As the debate continues, the focus now shifts to the upcoming quarter-final matches, with Khelif set to face Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori and Lin preparing for her next bout. The controversy surrounding their participation underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring fairness and clarity in sports eligibility standards.
(Source: © Agence France-Presse)
