The International Olympic Committee has spoken out against the controversial gender eligibility tests used by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Over the past week we've seen a huge amount of online backlash against female boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting after it was revealed the pair were disqualified from the 2023 IBA World Championships due to having failed unspecified eligibility tests.
The situation reached boiling point after a bout between Khelif and Italy's Angela Carini ended after just 46 seconds, with the 25-year-old Algerian subsequently facing a torrent of abuse on social media.
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Now the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has publicly addressed the controversial IBA 'gender tests', saying the procedure was flawed and 'not legitimate'.
"Those tests are not legitimate tests. The tests themselves, the process of the tests, the ad hoc nature of the tests are not legitimate," IOC spokesperson Mark Adams told the media at a press conference on Sunday (4 August).
He continued: "The testing, the method of the testing, the idea of the testing which happened kind of overnight. None of it is legitimate and this does not deserve any response."
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Adams didn't name either Khelif or Lin in his statements but went on to condemn their results being leaked to the public, calling the move 'disgraceful'.
"Frankly to be put in that position must be awful, on top of all the social media harassment which these athletes have had," he said.
IBA testing and eligibility criteria doesn't apply to the Olympics, with the association being stripped of its status as the boxing governing body last year.
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Adams then responded to a question asking if he believed the two boxers were targeted by the tests, saying: "We believe so."
"Two athletes tested in middle of the world championships and carted off and tested."
He added: "How are they targeted for this to come about and is it fair and right that two individuals are targeted in this way.... by a federation that is completely discredited?"
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Khelif has since spoken out about the online backlash, as she and Lin both reach the semi-finals in their respective weight classes.
"I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects," she said in an interview with SNTV after triumphing over Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori.
"It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying."
Topics: Olympics
Brenna Cooper