Another biological woman has been defeated by a biological male in the Paris Olympics for a second time.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting became a focal point of controversy due to her eligibility to compete in the women’s 57kg boxing category despite having XY chromosomes. Lin, who was previously disqualified from the 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championships for not meeting gender eligibility criteria set by the then-governing body, the International Boxing Association (IBA), has been allowed to compete under the regulations of the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU), organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The IOC has defended the participation of Lin Yu-ting and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, stating that both athletes are recognized as female in their passports and have complied with all applicable competition and medical regulations.
This decision highlights the IOC’s approach to gender eligibility, which encourages assessments on a sport-by-sport basis to ensure fairness while accommodating the complexities of gender identity in competitive sports.
The situation has sparked significant discussion and debate regarding the criteria for gender eligibility in sports, with viewpoints ranging from concerns about competitive fairness to advocacy for non-discrimination and inclusivity in the Olympic Games.
The IOC claims reports about their biological status are nothing but hateful attacks on the two boxers, born as biological males at birth.
“The current aggression against these two athletes is based entirely on this arbitrary decision, which was taken without any proper procedure – especially considering that these athletes had been competing in top-level competition for many years,” the IOC said.
