Algerian Iman Khelif and representative of Chinese Taipei Lin Yuting who had already been suspended by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for failing to submit to a gender test, were not tested for testosterone levels ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, said Mark Adams, communications director for the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Earlier, Italy’s Angela Carini had broken down in tears after refusing to continue her 1/8 finals boxing match in the up to 66kg category against Khelif at the 2024 Olympics. In 2023, the IBA suspended Khelif and Lin Yuting from the World Championships in India for failing to meet the eligibility criteria. Following the gender test, the athletes were found to have XY chromosomes. The IOC allowed them to compete in women’s competitions in 2024.
“Many women have higher testosterone levels than men. As I said before, this is not a 100% method of determining gender.
We need a scientific consensus on this issue, it is not a question of “black and white”. We would like to see a common opinion, but there is none – in all sports. Everyone will agree that it is impossible to change the rules during competitions. I do not think they are vague. I am not involved in organizing the boxing tournament, but I work for the IOC, but we use the rules that were in force at the last Olympic tournament.
I don’t think the community will want to go back to these tests, it’s discriminatory. Maybe everyone wants to see a clear justification for a particular decision. It’s a problem across the sport. Their passport identifies them as women. The Algerian athlete was born a woman and is a woman.
“As for gender testing, which I believe has been stopped since 1999. I don’t think anyone in the international community would agree with their return, even if there were a test criterion. I know several athletes who took gender tests when they were teenagers. It’s very shameful. Fortunately, that time is over,” Adams said at the briefing.
The Olympic Games will end on August 11.
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Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
