Boxing Gender Row: Boxing in the Paris 2024 Olympics has been clouded by controversy. At the coronary heart of the dispute are two lady boxers, Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting. They’re assured at least bronze medals, but they were disqualified from the World Championships last year. The International Boxing Association (IBA) referred to gender eligibility check failures, sparking a heated debate.
What Is the IBA?
The IBA, previously AIBA, was established in 1946 as the global governing body for newbie boxing. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) identified the IBA in 2019. However, governance problems and corruption allegations precipitated the IOC’s decision to drop the IBA in 2019, threatening boxing’s inclusion in the Olympics beyond 2028.
Governance Issues and Corruption
In 2018, because of economic mismanagement, the IBA issued lifetime bans to former president CK Wu and ex-govt director Ho Kim. CK Wu’s replacement, Gafur Rakhimov, was deemed a criminal by the American Treasury Department. The IBA’s modern-day president, Russian Umar Kremlev, has close ties to the Kremlin. Under his leadership, Gazprom, a Russian country-subsidized energy large, has become a first-rate sponsor.
The 2023 IBA World Championships
The 2023 World Championships were held in India for girls and in Uzbekistan for men. A boycott by 19 countries, including Great Britain and America, occurred after the IBA allowed Russian and Belarusian boxers to compete beneath their flags, defying IOC steering following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Kremlev criticized the boycotting nations as violating the “integrity of recreation and subculture.”
Khelif and Lin’s Disqualification
Khelif, Boxing Gender Row:Â competing in the welterweight category, was disqualified hours before her gold-medal match at the 2023 World Championships. Lin was stripped of her bronze medal. The IBA claimed both failed gender eligibility tests, citing concerns over competitive advantages. Yet, details of these tests remain undisclosed, leading to questions about their validity.
Test Controversy and IOC’s Doubt
The BBC couldn’t determine the nature of the eligibility tests. The IBA mentioned chromosome tests showing male XY chromosomes but couldn’t confirm the fighters as “biologically male.” Kremlev suggested the tests were for testosterone levels, which can enhance muscle mass and strength. The tests’ specifics remain confidential, leading to scepticism from the IOC.
The IOC and IBA Reactions
The IOC labelled Khelif and Lin victims of an arbitrary decision and criticized the IBA’s lack of due process. They emphasized that the fighters had long competed at the highest level without issues. The IBA defended its decision, stating it was necessary for competition integrity despite the lack of testosterone examination.
IBA’s Status Post-World Championships
In June 2023, the IOC stripped the IBA of its popularity as the game’s governing body. IOC President Thomas Bach stated the need for a federation with integrity and transparency. The IBA condemned the IOC’s decision as catastrophic, asserting its commitment to boxing’s development.
Emergence of a New Governing Body
World Boxing, a new organization, was founded in April 2023 to keep boxing at the Olympics. Its mission is to prioritize boxers’ interests and maintain boxing as an Olympic sport. Backed by representatives from several countries, it seeks IOC recognition as the global governing body, challenging the IBA’s authority.
IOC’s Role in Olympic Boxing Governance
The IOC, rather than the IBA, organized boxing at the Tokyo Olympics, with the International Testing Agency overseeing doping controls. The IOC maintains a zero-tolerance policy on doping, including testosterone level tests, to ensure fair competition.
IOC’s Position on Women’s Sports Eligibility
In 2021, the IOC issued guidelines for transgender athletes, placing eligibility criteria responsibility on individual sports federations. They emphasized no automatic advantage for transgender athletes in women’s events and expected federations to establish criteria before Paris 2024.
Khelif and Lin’s Test Results Revelation
Although the 2023 World Championships highlighted Khelif and Lin’s disqualifications, media attention increased before Paris 2024. The IOC removed details from its portal, leading to heightened scrutiny amid ongoing debates on women’s sports and transgender athletes.
What’s Next for Khelif and Lin?
Khelif and Lin are set to compete in semi-final bouts, possibly advancing to gold medal matches. As their cases unfold, the IBA and IOC continue to clash over the tests’ legitimacy and the athletes’ eligibility.
Summary: Boxing Gender Row
The controversy surrounding boxing’s gender row raises questions about fairness, governance, and transparency. With Russia’s potential involvement and the IOC’s oversight, the future of boxing at the Olympics remains uncertain, highlighting the need for a clear, inclusive framework for all athletes.
