Paris, August 2, 2024 — The Paris 2024 Olympics continue to be embroiled in controversy as two female boxers, Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan, compete despite having failed gender eligibility tests last year. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has come under scrutiny for allowing these athletes to participate in the women’s boxing competition, a decision that has sparked intense debate over fairness in sports.
Both Khelif and Lin were disqualified from the World Championships last year due to elevated testosterone levels, which exceeded the thresholds set by the International Boxing Association (IBA). Despite these disqualifications, the IOC has stated that the athletes meet the eligibility criteria for the Paris Games and are legally recognized as female in their passports.
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams addressed the controversy, stating, “Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the eligibility criteria. They are women in their passports, and it’s stated that is the case, and they are female.”