International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has faced further questions over the gender eligibility controversy involving two boxers competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Paris 2024 Olympic Games in what was his last press conference before the Games conclude this weekend.
Bach, who was first elected in 2013, did not deviate from the IOC's stance on eligibility concerns surrounding Imane Khelif boxers from Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, when they spoke to the media on Friday.
Gold medalist Imane Khelif of Algeria poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's 66 kilogram boxing final during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on August 9, 2024. (Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images)
“This is not a question of inclusion. That has never played a role in all this,” Bach said. “This is a question of justice.”
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The scrutiny began when the International Boxing Association, which the IOC withdrew its recognition from in 2023, issued a statement last month about the two boxers' disqualification from the 2023 IBA World Championships. The IBA president said at the time that Khelif and Lin were disqualified after they were found to have “XY chromosomes.”
But the IOC has maintained that both athletes meet the committee's eligibility concerns.
“Women have the right to participate in women's lives. [events]”We will not base our case on which test. I have seen a transcript of a very interesting press conference of this organisation (IBA) where it was not even clear what tests had been carried out, what results had been obtained. And anyway, what was reported there is not up to the level of science,” Bach continued.
“I've explained before the problems we have. It's not as easy as some want to present in these cultural wars that XX or XY is the clear distinction between men and women. This is no longer scientifically true. And therefore these two are women and have the right to participate in the women's competition. This has nothing to do with inclusion in any way.”
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, speaks to the media at a press conference on day 14 of the Olympic Games in Paris on August 9, 2024. (George Mattock/Getty Images)
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Bach said the IOC abandoned genetic gender testing in 1999 and that under the new systems in place the committee's position remains “very clear.”
“Women should be able to participate in women's competitions. And both [boxers] “They are women,” he said.
Asked whether the IOC would be willing to review its policies ahead of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, Bach said the organisation would be open to that.
“That's what we've said from the beginning. If someone presents us with a scientifically sound system – how to identify a man and a woman – we're the first to do it. We don't like this uncertainty. We don't like it to be like this for anyone's general situation. So we're happy to look into it. But what's not possible is for someone to say 'this is not a woman' just by looking at someone or being the victim of a smear campaign by a non-credible organisation with highly political interests.”
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The IOC issued a statement on August 1 clarifying that all boxers competing in the women's events “comply with the competition eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set out by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU).
Lin Yu-ting competes in the women's 57 kilogram semi-final against Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey on Day 12 of the Paris Olympic Games on August 7, 2024. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
“As in previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of athletes are based on their passport,” the statement added.
Bach's comments came just hours before Khelif won a gold medal in the women's 66-kilogram division after defeating reigning world welterweight champion Yang Liu of China by unanimous decision.
Lin will compete for gold in the women's featherweight division on Saturday.
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