Boxers Cleared to Compete After Disqualification Controversy

Two female boxers, Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan, are back in the competition after being disqualified last year due to gender eligibility tests. The International Olympic Committee confirmed that they are allowed to compete in the women’s boxing matches at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Recall that both athletes were disqualified during the Women’s World Boxing Championships held in New Delhi. At that time, the president of the International Boxing Association, Umar Kremlev, claimed their chromosome tests indicated they were XY, which sparked a lot of debate and controversy.

Khelif had strong feelings about her disqualification, hinting at a conspiracy to prevent her from winning a gold medal for Algeria. She was vocal in her accusations, stating that some people did not want her country to succeed.

Interestingly, both women have always competed as females, and there’s no evidence suggesting that they identify as transgender or intersex. The IOC cleared both athletes for the upcoming fights, stating that they meet the eligibility and health regulations.

This development comes after the IOC updated its gender eligibility policies back in 2021, allowing individual sports to set their own standards. They no longer defer to the IBA as the governing body, and this decision has raised some eyebrows, particularly in the U.S., where the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports is a hot topic.

Khelif is set to compete on Thursday, while Lin’s match is scheduled for Friday. Many are now watching closely, given the recent controversies surrounding their eligibility.