Two boxers who were disqualified from competing with women at a global event last year have been permitted to fight in the Paris Olympics, the International Olympic Committee confirmed. Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu‑ting of Taiwan failed to meet gender eligibility tests at the Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi last year, prompting their disqualifications. But, they have been cleared to compete in the women’s 66-kilogram and women’s 57-kilogram matches in Paris this week, the IOC confirmed in an email Tuesday.
At the time of their disqualifications, the president of the International Boxing Association, which governs the World Boxing Championships, alleged that the boxers’ chromosome tests came back as XY (women typically have two X chromosomes, while men typically have an X and a Y chromosome). Following her disqualification last year, Khelif denied allegations of wrongdoing and suggested a conspiracy was at play to prevent Algeria from winning a gold medal. The IOC stated that all athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with relevant regulations.
Critics within the United States, where the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports has been contentious, disapproved of the decision to include Khelif and Lin in the competition, questioning the fairness of their participation. Despite the controversy surrounding their eligibility, both boxers, who have always competed as women, are set to make their mark at the Paris Olympics this week as the games proceed under updated and stringent eligibility standards for athletes.
