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IOC Defends Allowing Imane Khelif, Who Won in 46 Seconds, to Compete in Paris Olympics

Aug 1, 2024, 01:26 PM

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended its decision to allow two boxers, Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-Ting of Taiwan, to compete in the Paris Olympics despite failing gender eligibility tests at the 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi. The IOC cited the athletes' passports, which identify them as women, as justification for their participation. Khelif, who has XY chromosomes and elevated testosterone levels due to a condition known as hyperandrogenism, defeated Italian boxer Angela Carini in just 46 seconds, leading to significant controversy. Carini, who withdrew from the bout after sustaining severe blows, expressed that she had never been hit so hard and was fighting in honor of her late father. The decision to allow Khelif and Yu-Ting to compete has sparked widespread debate about gender eligibility and fairness in women’s sports.