Gender row boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting are ‘destroying women’s sports’, claims head of the Russian-led IBA, who banned the fighters from last year’s world championships
- Khelif and Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from last year’s world championships
- The IOC has questioned the timing of the IBA’s decision
- Khelif secured himself a medal after a unanimous decision win over Hamori
The president of the International Boxing Federation has called the competition at the Paris Olympics “truly terrifying” and claimed the decision to allow boxer Imane Khelif, who is requesting a gender debate, “is destroying women’s sport”.
Khelif defiantly declared: “I am a woman” after securing a medal on Saturday with a unanimous points win over Anna Luca Hamori.
The Algerian welterweight, one of two athletes at the centre of a stormy Olympic battle, was banned from last year’s world championships by Russia’s IBA after they said she failed a gender test.
Umar Kremlev, chairman of the organization, criticized the decision to allow 25-year-old fighter Lin Yu-ting from Chinese Taipei to compete, claiming that her participation is harmful to “women’s sport.”
“It’s sad when we shout to the whole world that we’re for gender equality and protection of women and then they just destroy women’s sport,” he said. told Sky News.
Algerian welterweight Imane Khelif (right) claimed victory over Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori on Saturday
The 25-year-old is one of two athletes at the heart of an Olympic storm at the Paris Games
IBA head Umar Kremlev believes the participation of Khelif and fighter Lin Yu-ting from Chinese Taipei ‘destroys women’s sport’
“We cannot let this happen. If we remain silent now, it will become normal later. That is why our relationship with [the IOC] worsens – because they don’t protect athletes. And we protect athletes.’
On Friday, the Olympic Committee challenged the IBA’s ruling, claiming the two athletes were “victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision.”
“Towards the end of the 2023 IBA World Championships, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process,” an IOC statement said.
‘According to the IBA minutes, which are available on its website, this decision was initially taken solely by the IBA Secretary General and CEO.’
Some sports have restrictions on the amount of testosterone athletes can produce in women’s competitions, while other sports ban anyone who has already reached male puberty.
Sexual dysfunction disorders are a group of rare conditions involving genes, hormones, and reproductive organs.
Some people with DSD are raised as female, but have XY sex chromosomes and blood testosterone levels similar to males.
According to the IOC, the rules of participation are based on those of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and cannot be changed during a competition.
The governing body added: ‘The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently experiencing. Everyone has the right to practice sport without discrimination.’
Lin Yu-Ting triumphed at the Asian Games last year, securing a spot at the second Olympic Games
Khelif’s first fight in Paris lasted just 46 seconds, when Italy’s Angela Carini gave up in tears, fearing for her life.
But on Saturday the tears were her own after a magnificent performance, which saw her cheered by hundreds of boisterous Algerians and later congratulated by the country’s president, who said she had “honored Algeria, Algerian women and Algerian boxing.”
Khelif will face Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in the semi-finals on Tuesday. If she wins, she will fight for gold on Friday.