Algerian boxer Imane Khelif gave an interview Sunday night urging folks to not bully Olympic athletes online, but her compassion was completely misplaced – it focused solely on her, not the women she and fellow alleged XY-chromosome holder Lin Yu-Ting have physically bullied over the past week, women whose lifelong dreams were shattered.
In an AP article headlined, “Olympic boxer Imane Khelif calls for end to bullying after backlash over gender misconceptions,” Khelif is quoted as saying:
“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. 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.”
Perhaps if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had been more forthcoming about what testing has been done and why there’s a difference between IOC’s qualifications and those of the International Boxing Association (IBA), the sport’s worldwide governing body, and about what genetic disorder, if any, Khelif and Lin have, there wouldn’t be misconceptions. And perhaps if Khelif had been more forthcoming about any medical/genetic disorder she has, there wouldn’t be misconceptions. While Khelif was happy to prattle on about bullying and feelings, she hushed right up when asked what tests she had taken:
Khelif declined to answer when asked whether she had undergone tests other than doping tests, saying she didn’t want to talk about it.
Thanks to a Monday press conference held by the IBA we know at least a few tests Khelif has undergone, and that while the organization couldn’t come right out and say it due to privacy laws, that those tests show she has XY chromosomes. That should clear up some misconceptions.
A bit of backstory. Khelif and Lin have competed in global matches since 2017 and 2018, but were not disqualified due to then-unspecified testing by IBA officials until 2023. It’s been claimed that since the two competed for years as women any questioning of that now is suspect and smacks of “gender racism.” (Yes, the AP wrote an entire piece about it.)
After the IBA disqualified both Lin and Khelif the IOC stepped in, stripping the IBA of its governance role and claiming it was due to concerns about governance and financial conduct. Those concerns may or may not be well-founded, but they don’t change test results. The IOC performed its own tests, refusing to specify what tests were done, and ruled that the two could compete in Paris.
According to The Guardian, at the start of the Paris games the IOC website provided to journalists with information about athletes listed some specifics about the tests performed on Khelif and Lin:
However the IOC’s own MyInfo website acknowledges that both boxers failed gender eligibility tests last year.
In its internal system, which is provided to journalists in Paris, the IOC states that Khelif was “disqualified just hours before her gold medal showdown against Yang Liu at the 2023 world championships in New Delhi, India, after her elevated levels of testosterone failed to meet the eligibility criteria”. The IOC also acknowledges that Lin was “stripped of her bronze medal after failing to meet eligibility requirements based on the results of a biochemical test.
Until Monday’s press conference we didn’t know specifically which tests had been performed by the IBA or have an official word on the results (though IBA’s president told a Russian news agency results showed that Khelif had XY chromosomes). The two-hour press conference was chaotic – there were issues with audio equipment and translators – but the organization posted a long list of bullet points on their website giving the chronology and lots of specifics.
The bullet points are being copied in their entirety, because they are detailed and relevant.
- Following many complaints from several coaches, boxers agreed to gender testing. Blood sample collection was made on 17 May 2022. Sistem Tip Laboratory from Istanbul (License Number: 194-MRK) issued its report on 24 May 2022, after the competition ended. The laboratory detected results that didn’t match the eligibility criteria for IBA women’s events.
- Khelif won the silver medal in category 63 kg, Lin won the gold medal in category 57 kg.
- One test for each athlete was not enough to make a decision with respective consequences; in the case that one test mistake is possible. The lawyers advised to monitor the situation and to contact the IOC.
- IBA informed the IOC representatives about these tests, but no reaction followed from the IOC side.
- The situation was completely new to boxing, and IBA, following numerous consultations, decided to conduct a second testing before disqualifying the boxers. However, the second testing could only be conducted in a neutral country and within the IBA competition period.
- At the next IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023 in New Delhi, Khelif and Lin were tested following their consent again before their first fights. Blood sample collection was made on 17 March 2023. Dr Lal PathLabs from New Delhi issued its report on 23 March 2023. The findings were absolutely identical to the first test results.
- On 24 March 2023, IBA Secretary General & CEO at the time, George Yerolimpos, informed both Khelif and Lin about their exclusion from the Championships for not meeting the eligibility criteria. The athletes received a copy of their testing and were informed about the possibility of appealing to the CAS within 21 days.
- Khelif and Lin were informed accordingly about the decision and acknowledged it by signing the papers. The test details were attached to the letter.
- On 26 March 2023, the IBA Board of Directors by a majority vote decided to ratify the decision taken by the IBA Secretary General & CEO on behalf of IBA to disqualify Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023.
- These tests affect the private life of the person concerned and constitute medical information protected as personal data. We are not allowed to publish these documents without the agreement of the person concerned. However, both Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting received a copy of these tests, and they never disputed it. They know these tests exist and it is not fake.
- Both athletes were provided with the right to appeal against the Board’s decision to the CAS.
- Lin Yu-ting did not appeal against the decision to declare her ineligible, and it became legal and binding.
- On 12 May 2023, IBA amended its Technical and Competition Rules. After internal discussion, it was decided by the Board of Directors that IBA competitions will be conducted only between male athletes and between female athletes. Participation of DSD athletes (“differences of sexual development”) in boxing competitions were found dangerous for health and security of the boxers.
After this lengthy process, IBA amended its rules to define male contestants as those with XY chromosomes and female contestants as those with X chromosomes, and that males could only compete against males, and females could only compete against females.
The IBA put out a statement at the start of the Paris games emphasizing its commitment to boxer safety, a commitment sorely lacking from the IOC.
We absolutely do not understand why any organisation would put a boxer at risk with what could bring a potential serious injury within the ‘Field of Play’ (FOP). The main role of the referee in the ring is to manage the boxer’s safety at all times. How is this reasonably practicable when a boxer fails to meet the eligibility criteria to compete?
The IBA will never support any boxing bouts between the genders, as the organization puts the safety and well-being of our athletes first. We are protecting our women and their rights to compete in the ring against equal rivals, and we will defend and support them in all instances; their hopes and dreams must never be taken away by organisations unwilling to do the right thing under difficult circumstances.
Rather than talk about these facts and have a debate about the best way for individuals with DSD to compete the IOC has chosen to malign the IBA by implying that since it’s based in Russia it must be evil, and to participate in character assassination of anyone who disagrees with their stance.
Khelif has lapped that attitude right up. Shockingly, she claims that she’s the one who’s been wronged, telling an Algerian broadcaster on Sunday night:
“Yes, this issue involves the dignity and honor of every woman and female. The Arab population has known me for years and has seen me box in the IBA that wronged me (and) treated me unfairly, but I have God on my side.
“I know that the Olympic Committee has done me justice, and I am happy with this remedy because it shows the truth.”
Khelif says she’s going for the gold medal, which would be the ultimate revenge.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Khelif is referred to as “she” throughout this article because, according to available information, Khelif was raised as a female and lived as a female for her entire life, and hasn’t gone through any “transition” process. It is rumored that Khelif has a condition known as “differences of sexual development,” or DSD, and might not have known about the XY chromosomes until specific testing was done. If information to the contrary becomes available, we will change the pronouns used to refer to Khelif.)
