A former swimmer has accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of negligence for permitting Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting to compete in Paris, advocating for sex verification tests for all athletes. Sharron Davies expressed concerns regarding the potential dangers faced by female Olympians, aligning herself with advocates for fairness in sports who are calling for these tests.
The former silver medalist described the ongoing controversy surrounding gender issues in boxing at the current Games as a form of “genuine neglect” on the part of the IOC. She, along with other prominent figures in the movement, highlighted the risks that future Olympic events may encounter as Khelif and Lin approach the possibility of winning gold medals.
Experts have indicated that research demonstrates biological males can strike with approximately “162 percent” more force than females. Davies, alongside Fiona McAnena from the organization Sex Matters, urged that the integrity of the sport should not be compromised by uncertainties regarding the credibility of the International Boxing Association, which conducted gender eligibility assessments for Khelif and Lin in 2022 and 2023.
Davies expressed his concerns during a press conference on Thursday, stating, “It is utterly reckless to allow a male competitor to face a female in the boxing ring. The International Olympic Committee’s assertion that the only criterion of importance is what is indicated on a passport demonstrates a serious disregard for safety. The responsibility to ensure the well-being of athletes has been completely disregarded, and it is alarming. We are on the brink of a situation where a female athlete could be seriously harmed if we do not proceed with caution. The situation is indeed dire.”
The IOC has consistently rejected the idea of implementing mandatory sex verification tests at the upcoming Games, citing concerns about the potential stigmatization of athletes Khelif and Lin.
Linda Blade, co-founder of the International Consortium on Female Sport, along with McAnena from Sex Matters, emphasized that the controversy surrounding these athletes was “entirely preventable.” Blade highlighted the significant differences in physical capabilities, noting, “Boxing exhibits the most pronounced disparity between male and female competitors, with males delivering punches that are 162 percent more powerful than those of females. The risk posed to female athletes from an unverified male participant is catastrophic.”
Their comments come in advance of the Olympic women’s boxing finals scheduled for Friday and Saturday, where Khelif and Lin are anticipated to be strong contenders for gold medals.
Protests against this situation have been ongoing, with Lin encountering “XX” gender gestures during her last two matches.
The ongoing controversy surrounding the Games has prompted McAnena to state, “The responsibility for this failure lies with the IOC, which also possesses the means to rectify the situation. It was the IOC that established the Paris boxing unit and is now asserting that there is no scientific agreement on how to define a woman.
“Moreover, the same IOC asserts that these two boxers are women. By declining to permit or acknowledge sex screening, the IOC has opened the door to public scrutiny regarding Khelif and Lin.”
Advocates argue that the IOC is mistaken in its assertion that there is no desire to revert to sex testing. Research consistently indicates that a significant majority of female athletes support sex screening. For instance, during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, 82 percent of respondents expressed their approval.
“There is no ambiguity in this matter,” stated Davies. “It is quite clear. Biological females deserve protection to maintain their own classification in sports. This group constitutes 51 percent of the global population, yet they are currently made to feel irrelevant, which is truly distressing.”
The IOC has dismissed such criticisms, maintaining that Khelif and Lin are women, despite their disqualifications from IBA events last year.
