At the World Championship last year, gender tests were conducted that were rejected, and according to the International Boxing Federation, Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting both showed X- and Y-chromosomes, which according to the genetic setup usually applies to men. Women usually have two X-chromosomes.
Since then, there have been strong reactions around the duo's participation in the Olympic Games.
I don't think it should be allowed. Especially not in combat sports where it can be really dangerous, says Caitlin Parker, who competes in the 75-kilo class at the Olympic Games, according to AFP.
"Criminal"
Another who has reacted is the chairman of PBA (Professional Boxing Association), Barry McGuigan.
"It's pathetic. Men becoming women to gain advantages in sports. What are the authorities doing about this? In boxing and other combat sports, this is criminal", he wrote on X.
However, the two boxers have not changed gender but were born as women with chromosomal abnormalities. The International Olympic Committee, IOC, therefore stands by its decision to let the two boxers compete in Paris.
All those competing in the women's class meet the requirements to participate. They are women in their passports, said IOC spokesperson Mark Adams and continued:
These two athletes (Khelif and Lin) have competed many times before over many years. It's not like they just showed up now. They competed in Tokyo (Olympic Games 2021).
The match was suddenly broken off
Lin Yu-Ting enters the Olympic tournament for the first time on Friday. But Imane Khelif has already had her first match – and it became a strange story.
Just 42 seconds into the match, the referee broke it off, and her opponent, Angela Carini from Italy, received help with her headgear. The match was about to start again, but a few seconds later, Carini chose to break off the match, and the victory was awarded to Khelif.
Later, it emerged that it was a blow to the nose that caused the Italian to break off, according to the Italian Gazzetta dello Sport.
