IOC says boxers in gender dispute to remain in Paris Olympics - ESPN

PARIS — The two women boxers at the heart of a gender dispute at the Paris Olympics will stay in the competition for as long as they keep winning because they meet all eligibility criteria, the International Olympic Committee said Monday.

The IOC is in charge of holding the boxing tournament in Paris after stripping recognition of the International Boxing Association last year following failure to implement governance and finance reforms.

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan's double world champion Lin Yu-ting, who have reached the semifinals of their respective weight divisions, were cleared to compete at the Games despite having been disqualified during the 2023 World Championships.

The IBA on Monday said the boxers failed an eligibility test after having undergone a chromosome test during the 2023 worlds, and that the IBA had informed the IOC at the time.

The boxing body insists the fighters should not be competing in Paris.

«These athletes have been competing in senior competitions for six years with no issues,» IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said. «These women were eligible for this contest, remain eligible for this contest and compete in this contest.»

Both boxers have already secured at least a bronze medal by reaching this stage. Khelif, whose first-round fight against Angela Carini lasted 46 seconds before the Italian opted to stop after soaking up a string of powerful punches, faces Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng on Tuesday. Lin takes on Turkey's Esra Kahraman Yildiz on Wednesday.

Khelif on Sunday called for an end to the bullying of athletes amid the international backlash, saying the hateful scrutiny she has faced over misconceptions about her gender «harms human dignity.»

Khelif's father, Amar, told Reuters