IOC president says chromosome testing ‘scientifically not true anymore’ in determining man and woman

August 10, 2024:

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach faced more questions about the gender eligibility controversy involving two boxers competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics in what was his final press conference before the Games conclude this weekend.

Bach, who was first elected in 2013, did not sway from the IOC’s stance on the eligibility concerns surrounding boxers Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan when speaking to the media 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 Aug. 9, 2024. (Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images)

“This is not a question of inclusion. That’s never played a role in all this,” Bach said. “This is a question of justice.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The scrutiny began when the International Boxing Association, which the IOC withdrew its recognition of in 2023, put out a statement last month about the two boxers’ disqualification from the International Boxing Association World Championships in 2023. The IBA’s 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 [events], and we will not rely on — which test? I have been seeing a transcript of this very interesting press conference of this organization (IBA) where it was not even clear which tests have been performed, which results they have been produced. And, anyway, what was reported there is not up to science,” Bach continued.

“I have explained before the issues we have. It is not as easy as some may in these cultural wars may now want to portray it that XX or XY is the clear distinction between the men and women. This is scientifically not true anymore. And, therefore, these two are women. And they 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 Aug. 9, 2024. (George Mattock/Getty Images)

ALGERIAN BOXER IMANE KHELIF WINS OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL BY UNANIMOUS DECISION

Bach said the IOC abandoned genetic gender testing in 1999, and under the new systems in place, the committee’s stance remains “very clear.”

“Women must be allowed to take part in women’s competitions. And the two [boxers] are women,” he said.

When asked if the IOC would be willing to review its policies ahead of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, Bach said the organization would be open to it.

“That’s what we have said from the very beginning. If somebody is presenting us a scientifically solid system – how to identify man and woman – we’re the first ones to do it. We do not like this uncertainty. We do not like it for the overall situation for nobody. So, we would be more than pleased to look into it. But what is not possible is that somebody saying that ‘this is not a woman’ just by looking at somebody or by falling prey to a defamation campaign by not a credible organization with highly political interests.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The IOC put out a statement Aug. 1 clarifying that all boxers competing in the women’s events “comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU).

Lin Yu-ting competes in the women’s 57-kilogram semifinal match against Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey on day 12 of the Olympic Games in Paris Aug. 7, 2024. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

“As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the 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 the reigning welterweight world champion, Yang Liu of China, by unanimous decision.

Lin will compete for gold in the women’s featherweight division Saturday.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Source link

tags

Abkhazia Afghanistan Africa Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guam Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Northern Cyprus Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Lucia Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda UK Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uruguay USA Uzbekistan Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe