Aug 3: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been at the center of a heated debate following its decision to allow two female boxers, Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan, to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics despite their previous disqualifications over gender eligibility issues. Both athletes had failed gender tests conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA) during the 2023 World Championships.
IOC President Thomas Bach addressed the controversy, condemning the “hate speech” and “aggression” directed at the athletes. He asserted that both boxers had been unfairly disqualified by the IBA without due process and criticized the IBA’s decision as arbitrary. Bach emphasized that the IOC would not participate in what he described as a “politically motivated cultural war” and reiterated that the athletes have the right to compete without discrimination.
Bach’s comments came after Khelif’s dominant performance in the boxing ring, where she secured a victory in just 46 seconds. This sparked further debate, with critics arguing about the fairness of her participation. Despite the backlash, the IOC maintained that its eligibility rules, based on those from the Tokyo 2021 Games, were being applied consistently and would not be altered mid-competition.
The controversy has drawn significant public attention, with prominent figures like author J.K. Rowling and entrepreneur Elon Musk voicing their opinions against the athletes’ participation. However, the IOC’s stance highlights its commitment to uphold the rights of athletes to compete based on established eligibility criteria.
