International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has faced fresh questions over the gender eligibility controversy involving two boxers competing at the Tokyo Olympics. Paris 2024 Olympic Games during his last press conference before the end of the Games this weekend.
Bach, who was first elected in 2013, has not deviated from the IOC’s position on eligibility issues surrounding boxers Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan during their speech to the media on Friday.
Algerian gold medalist Imane Khelif poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women’s 66 kilogram boxing final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 9, 2024. (Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images)
“It’s not about inclusion. That’s never played a role in any of this,” Bach said. “It’s about justice.”
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The investigation began when the International Boxing Association, which was derecognized by the IOC in 2023, issued a statement last month regarding the disqualification of the two boxers from the 2023 International Boxing Association World Championships. The IBA president said at the time that Khelif and Lin were disqualified after it was discovered that they had “XY chromosomes.”
But the IOC maintained that both athletes met the committee’s eligibility criteria.
“Women have the right to participate in women’s lives. [events]”And we will not rely on what test? I saw a transcript of this very interesting press conference of this organization (IBA) where it was not even clear what tests were done, what results they produced. And, in any case, what was reported there is not up to the standard of science,” Bach continued.
“I’ve already explained the problems we’re facing. It’s not as simple as some would have us believe in these culture wars, that XX or XY is the clear distinction between men and women. That’s no longer scientifically true. And, therefore, those two are women. And they have a right to compete in women’s competition. It has nothing to do with inclusion in any way.”
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, speaks to the media during a press conference on the 14th day of the Olympic Games in Paris, France, August 9, 2024. (George Mattock/Getty Images)
ALGERIAN BOXER IMANE KHELIF WINS OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL BY UNANIMOUS DECISION
Bach said the IOC abandoned gender genetic testing in 1999 and that under the new systems in place the committee’s position remains “very clear”.
“Women should be allowed to compete in women’s competitions. And both [boxers] “They are women,” he said.
Asked whether the IOC would be willing to review its policies ahead of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, Bach said the organization would be open to it.
“That’s what we’ve said from the beginning. If someone comes to us with a scientifically sound system – how to identify a man and a woman – we’re the first to do it. We don’t like that uncertainty. We don’t like it for anyone’s overall situation. So we’d be more than happy to look at it. But what’s not possible is for someone to say ‘that’s not a woman’ just by looking at someone or by falling prey to a smear campaign by an organization that is not credible and has highly political interests.”
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The IOC issued a statement on August 1 stating that all boxers competing in the women’s events “comply with the eligibility and entry rules of the competition, as well as all applicable medical regulations established by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU).
Lin Yu-ting competes in the women’s 57 kilogram semifinal against Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey on day 12 of the Paris Olympic Games on August 7, 2024. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
“As in previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of athletes are based on their passports,” the statement added.
Bach’s comments came hours before Khelif won a gold medal in the women’s 66-kilogram division after beating reigning welterweight world champion Yang Liu of China by unanimous decision.
Lin will compete for gold in the women’s featherweight division on Saturday.
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