'Tragic reality': Olympics' gender storm erupts over banned athletes

The International Olympic Committee has been forced to defend two boxers in the women’s competition at the Paris Games who failed gender eligibility tests last year.

A storm has erupted in the French capital after historical footage of a one-sided boxing contest prompted concerns about potential physical advantages the two athletes will have in their competitions this year.

Imane Khelif from Algeria is set to fight on Friday in the women’s under 66kg category, while Lin Yu Ting from Taiwan has her first bout in the under 57kg division on Saturday.

Both fighters previously competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but had not recorded failed test results until last year when they were both disqualified at the World Championships.

The IOC has made a blunt statement that the organisation will not step in to remove the fighters from competition.

The issue has become a divisive topic in Paris. The Matildas’ 6-5 win over Zambia on Tuesday morning (AEST) also made international headlines because of the performance of striker Racheal Kundananji, who scored two goals against the Aussies.

Kundananji was banned from the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2022 after “failing gender eligibility tests” due to her natural testosterone levels being above those allowed by the Confederation of African Football.

The IOC's stance has been met with angry comments by outspoken women’s rights advocacy groups, including former American swimmer Riley Gaines.

Lucy Zelic and Riley Gaines have spoken out. Picture: Instagram, Scott Barbour and InstagramSource: Supplied

Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and so-called “clean sport” campaigner, has caused a stir with comments she made responding on Twitter to the viral video — which has more than 4.7 million views — that showed Khelif winning a previous amateur fight in 2022.

Gaines has sparked backlash with her controversial comments, in which she labelled Khelif a “male boxer” and argued the Olympics was “glorifying punching women in the face”.

“Imagine training your WHOLE life, getting good enough to earn a spot on the Olympic team, hoping to win an Olympic medal.... then you’re told you have to fight a man,” she posted on Twitter. “That’s the tragic reality for these women.”

Imane Khelif (right) shakes hands with an opponent at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Adam Davy/PA ImagesSource: Supplied

The IOC has not been moved by the swirling controversy.

“Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the eligibility criteria,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters.

“They are women in their passports and it’s stated that is the case, and they are female.

“These athletes have competed many times before for many years. They haven’t just suddenly arrived.”

The IOC has previously addressed Kundananji’s inclusion in competition. She has played international football for Zambia since 2018.

Yu Ting Lin (left) in action at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Buda Mendes/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

However, Aussie football commentator Lucy Zelic hit out at Kundananji’s inclusion on Tuesday, taking to Twitter to “discuss the elephant in the room”.

Zelic, who is commentating on the Olympics for Nine radio, posted: “We are entitled to ask questions. We are entitled to know why the failed gender verification tests conducted in 2022 were completely ignored by FIFA in 2023 and continue to be ignored in 2024.

“That the International Olympics Committee do not have ‘as strict’ rules when it comes to gender testing is also a slight on the credibility of the organisation and the sports being contested.”

Racheal Kundananji (R) fights for the ball with Australia's midfielder Katrina Gorry. Picture: Valery Hache / AFPSource: AFP

Zelic has been an outspoken critic of transgender athletes being allowed to compete in women’s sport and has argued that it is “alarming” for those concerns to be silenced.

Gender eligibility will continue to be a divisive topic throughout the Games — especially when Khelif and Lin step into the ring.

Khelif and Lin were both disqualified at the World Championships in New Delhi last year after failing to pass eligibility tests.

Khelif was disqualified hours before her gold medal bout over “elevated testosterone levels”, according to her profile on the Paris Games information system.

Lin was stripped of her bronze medal at the championship after undergoing “biochemical” tests that were mandated by the International Boxing Association (IBA) under Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev.

The IBA was effectively expelled from the Olympic movement last year following a bitter dispute between the CIO and Kremlev, meaning the IOC has taken responsibility for organising the boxing at the Paris Games.

Adams said that determining eligibility criteria for women’s sport was “incredibly complex” and should be done by federations.

“Everyone would love to have a single answer, yes or no,” he continued, adding: “The federations need to make the rules to make sure there is fairness but also the ability for everyone to take part that wants to.”

— with AFP