San Francisco Frontiers - The gloves are off: explaining the Olympic boxing gender scandal

AFP takes a look at the scrap, which has spread far outside the ring but is more complicated than it first appears with even Olympic officials admitting it's a "minefield."

- Who's involved? -

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, 25, boxing in the 66kg category, and 28-year-old Taiwan's Lin Yu Ting, fighting at 57kg.

The row erupted after Khelif won her bout against Italy's Angela Carini in just 46 seconds with two strong punches to the Italian's nose that started bleeding profusely.

Both Khelif and Lin were disqualified from the 2023 world championships in New Delhi run by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after failing to meet "eligibility criteria."

However, both competed in the Tokyo Olympics and were cleared to fight in Paris.

- What was the 'eligibility' test? -

This is where things start to get murky. The IBA said in a statement the athletes "did not undergo a testosterone examination but were subject to a separate and recognised test."

However, the "specifics" of this test "remain confidential."

Lin did not appeal the decision, notes the IBA. Khelif did take her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but then withdrew the appeal.

The IBA said the test "conclusively indicated" that both failed to meet required eligibility criteria and had "a competitive advantage over other female competitors."

At the time, Khelif said she had been told she had "characteristics that mean I can't box with women," claiming she was victim of a "big conspiracy."

Khelif's profile on the Paris 2024 media information site initially said she had been disqualified from the world championships over "elevated levels of testosterone" but this was later removed.

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said it was a "fact" that this was the reason but said the IBA had made a "sudden and arbitrary decision" to disqualify the boxers.

Adams said the IOC's own criteria was the gender indicated on the boxers' passports but acknowledged that it's "not a black-and-white issue."

Measuring testosterone is unsatisfactory, he told reporters. "There are many women with higher levels than men so the idea that a testosterone test is some kind of magic bullet is not true," said Adams.

- Is this a transgender issue? -

No. Neither boxer is known to identify as transgender and the IOC has lashed out at "incorrect reporting" to that effect.

"I should make this absolutely clear to everyone: this is not a transgender issue. These women have been competing in competitions for many years," said Adams.

He warned about turning the scandal into a "witch-hunt", adding: "This involves real people and we're talking about real people's lives here."

Khelif told UNICEF in an interview earlier this year that she got into boxing after evading punches from boys who were threatened by her footballing prowess.

Lin attributes questions over her gender to her short hairstyle and height (she is 1.75m tall). "If I wore my hair long, I would have to spend too much time tending to it," she told CNA, Taiwan's semi-official news agency.

- Political counterpunching -

The two athletes appear to have become caught in a slugfest between the IBA and the IOC.

The IOC stripped the IBA of responsibility for organising the Paris Games over financial, ethical and governance issues.

The "Paris 2024 Boxing Unit", a special body set up by the IOC, is running the Olympic competition and has less stringent eligibility criteria than the IBA.

"The IOC's differing regulations on these matters, in which IBA is not involved, raise serious questions about both competitive fairness and athletes' safety," jabbed the IBA.

The IOC punched back. "As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport," said the organisation.

"Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination."

- What was the reaction? -

Fierce and immediate. Politicians and celebrities started raining down shots on social media within an hour of the bout finishing.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the fight was "not on an equal footing."

US presidential candidate Donald Trump declared on his Truth Social network: "I WILL KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS!"

His running mate JD Vance described the bout as a "grown man pummelling a woman in a boxing match," adding: "This is disgusting, and all of our leaders should condemn it."

Harry Potter author JK Rowling said on X, formerly Twitter, that the Paris Games would be "forever tarnished by the brutal injustice done to Carini".

There is no suggestion that either boxer has ever been a man.

Neither boxer has weighed in, Khelif saying just: "It's always satisfying to win in such an important competition, but I remain focused on my goal of a medal."

- 'What's next?' -

Lin steps into the ring against Sitora Turdibekova from Uzbekistan on Friday at 1330 GMT.

Khelif fights Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori in the quarter-final on Saturday at 1522 GMT.

As for the controversy, that rumbles on.

A.Clark--SFF