Olympics organizers strongly criticized the arbitrary testing imposed on boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, which led to misinformation identifying them as transgender or men. The International Olympic Committee spokesperson, Mark Adams, defended the athletes and condemned the now-banned governing body of boxing, the International Boxing Association (IBA), for claiming that the fighters failed unspecified eligibility tests for women’s competition. The testing was described as flawed and based on suspicions, leading to an unfair situation for the athletes. The IOC received a letter from the IBA last year regarding Khelif and Lin, but Adams emphasized that the tests were not legitimate.
The controversy surrounding the two female boxers has been linked to gender identity and sports regulations, with critics questioning their disqualification by the IBA. The IOC President, Thomas Bach, sought to address the issue and described it as a politically motivated “cultural war.” He emphasized that the athletes were born and raised as women, competing for years as women, and should not be subjected to unfair testing or scrutiny. Bach also connected the situation to a broader Russian-led campaign against the IOC and the Paris Olympics, where only 15 Russian athletes are participating as neutrals due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. In conclusion, the testing of Khelif and Lin was deemed flawed and unjust, with the IOC defending the athletes and condemning the actions of the IBA.
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