Two Olympic boxers come under scrutiny

Algeria’s Imane Khelif faces Angela Carini of Italy today in a women’s 66kg welterweight boxing match in Paris under intense scrutiny. Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from last year’s World Championships for failing gender eligibility tests set by the International Boxing Association (IBA). But boxing at the Paris Games, as during the Tokyo Olympics, is being run by the International ­Olympic Committee, after the IBA was stripped of its status as the global governing body over finance issues. The latest IOC guidelines state that athletes with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) and gender diversity should only be excluded from women’s competition if there are clear fairness or safety concerns. “Biologically, genetically, they’re going to have more advantages, and in combat sports, it can be dangerous,” Caitlin Parker, an Australian boxer, told Reuters. The IOC has defended its decision to allow the boxers to take part. “I would just say that everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the competition eligibility rules,” said Mark Adams, the IOC spokesperson. Lin is due to compete tomorrow in the 57kg featherweight category.