Olympic Gender Battle
The Paris 2024 Olympics has captivated a global audience as it heads towards the closing ceremony on Sunday, 11th August. Yet, there is one headline that has outshone the rest, causing a universal gender eligibility argument. What happened in the (now) infamous boxing bout between Imane Khelif and Angela Carini? And what does this mean for boxing, and sports in general, when addressing gender issues in the future?
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif emerges victorious from her Round of Sixteen fight with Angela Carini: Fabio Bozzani/Getty Images
What Caused the Gender Row?
For anyone with a phone and internet service, they would have seen the headlines of controversy stemming from the Algerian’s fight. The Italian contender, Carini, ended the fight in just 46 seconds, through fears for her safety. She had already readjusted her head guard following a punch from Khelif and later stated she had ‘never been punched so hard in her career’. Reaching the Olympics in the first place is an exceptional achievement. Representing your country on the global stage is, possibly, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You begin to understand how the decision made by Carini was not one made lightly. And in her view, and that of millions around the world, her chance at securing an Olympic medal for her country was unfairly impeded by an athlete who should not have been fighting in the first place.
Italy’s Angela Carini (right) ended the fight due to concerns for her health, but stated it ‘wasn’t for her to decide who competes’: Fabio Bozzani/Getty Images
It should be noted: this is not a transgender row. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressly stated how any person who is registered as female on their passport is eligible to fight as such. This is regardless of any different sexual characteristics which could affect their performance. This is not only the case for Imane Khelif. Another Olympic boxer, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting, has also faced criticism in her featherweight division. The abnormally high testosterone levels, as a result of a condition known as hyperandrogenism, means these athletes may have a genetically-enhanced sporting ability. Especially to fight. Without going into the scientific intricacies, this can result in better oxygen uptake, increased mental drive, and, most importantly, stronger punches, as Carini found out.
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting (Left: REUTERS/Peter Cziborra) and Algeria’s Imane Khelif (Right: REUTERS/Isabel Infantes). Both women are through to the semi-finals of their respective weight categories.
Is There More to the Story Than Just These Olympics?
Short answer: yes. A large amount of the criticism has come as a result of both athletes having previously been disqualified from the World Championships as recently as last year. Whether these athletes are deemed eligible appears to be dependent on the governing body. The International Boxing Association (IBA), who oversaw the 2023 World Championships, claimed both of these fighters failed their gender eligibility tests. What these were, no one knows. The IBA claims they revealed evidence of male chromosomes in the athletes. However, the IOC then disputed these tests, and last June, relieved the IBA of its governing role, citing inadequate regulation as its justification. Hence, why these athletes are now eligible for the Olympics.
With increasingly sophisticated scientific testing being readily available, perhaps this controversy is unavoidable. If so, the gender scrutiny targeted at these two athletes is completely wrong. Khelif herself has labelled this media frenzy as ‘bullying’, carrying with it the potential to ‘destroy people’. It’s not the first time this has happened on the global stage either. Caster Semenya, South Africa’s 800m Olympic champion, also faced similar gender-based obstacles. Rule changes in athletics required her to take testosterone-reducing medication for her competitive distances. Having started this medication, and in her own words going through ‘hell’ in the process, Semenya declined this for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. She was refused entry. This is a genetic trait which athletes cannot control. Controlling it through medication significantly impacts their general wellbeing. But the majority of female athletes simply cannot compete against these hyperandrogenous women. Where do you draw the line?
Caster Semenya winning the 800m gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games: Saeed Khan/Getty Images
Where Will International Sport Go Next?
These heated debates have left a crucial question mark in how to deal with these athletes in the future. The IBA claimed the two boxers failed to meet gender eligibility requirements but also failed to detail what these tests consisted of. The IOC then said the athletes were eligible to compete, leading us to this inevitable climax. So, where next? Unless some form of scientific data can give definitive answers to biological gender identities, this will not be going away any time soon. At present, it appears female athletes with naturally higher testosterone levels are going to be discriminated against. This is clearly unfair. Yet, without clear scientific evidence, what else is there that can be done?
IOC’s Mark Adams clears Khelif and Yu-Ting to compete, despite IBA’s gender ineligibility data: Marko Djurica/REUTERS
The gender row has gathered momentum due to recent events, and it could not be more timely. This isn’t just a sporting fairness debate. With boxing now coming into the equation, this is an issue for the safety of other fighters. Should Khelif or Yu-Ting win the gold medal, this gender battle has only just begun.
