2. Are Kerif and Lynn men?
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This is the crux of the debate.
Umar Kremlyov, a Russian national and president of the International Boxing Association (IBA), was quoted in Russian media last year as saying: To tell A DNA test revealed that both Kherif and Lin have XY chromosomes, meaning they are male.
Both Kheriff and Lin have been stripped of their victories at the 2023 IBA Women’s Boxing World Championships (Kheriff advanced to the gold medal match but withdrew from the tournament before competing in that round, and Lin was stripped of her bronze medal).
The IBA later issued a statement saying: “The players were not tested for testosterone but underwent separate, accredited testing, the details of which are being kept confidential.”
But the International Olympic Committee says both athletes are women, and in a statement last week the IOC said: “As in previous Olympic boxing events, the gender and age of athletes is determined based on their passport.”
“We have seen misleading information being published about two female athletes who will compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics.“ “Both athletes have competed in international women’s boxing competitions over the years, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships and IBA-sanctioned tournaments,” the IOC said.“
“These two athletes are victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. They were suddenly disqualified, without due process, towards the end of the 2023 IBA World Championships,” the IOC added.
There is no record of either boxer ever competing as a man.
The IBA was previously in charge of Olympic boxing events. However, due to various issues including governance, financial management, and fairness of judging, the IOC suspended its recognition in 2019 and ultimately decided to completely sever ties with the IBA in 2023. The IOC will take over the oversight of boxing events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021) and will continue to do so at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, about 30 countries have left the IBA and established a new organization, World Boxing, in the hope that boxing will remain an Olympic event in 2028.
“These are two boxers who were born as women, raised as women, hold female passports, and have competed as women for many years.“ IOC President Thomas Bach said:“
And this is a clear definition of a woman. There was no question that they were women.”
Some observers have speculated that Kherif and Lin may have a disorder of sex development (DSD), meaning they have female genitalia but male chromosomes, but that is merely speculation.
Meanwhile, Kherif’s father Presented She recently provided media personnel with her birth certificate stating that she was born female.
“Imane has loved sports since she was 6 years old. She plays soccer,“ Amar Kherif said: “These criticisms and rumours are aimed at destabilising Imane. They don’t want her to become world champion.”“
Other observers have completely rejected Kremlyov’s claims and Russian media, noting that Russia has a history of doping scandals and systematic cheating in sports that undermines the credibility of their claims. For example, Russia was banned from the 2018, 2020 and 2022 Olympics in the wake of doping scandals. (Days before Helev’s disqualification, she defeat She was the previously undefeated Russian boxer, and her disqualification made Russian boxers undefeated again.
But Kremlev stands by his position.
“I don’t understand why they are abolishing women’s boxing.“ He said of the IOC: “For safety reasons, only qualified athletes should compete in the rings.”
On Monday, the IBA Press conference IBA chief executive Chris Roberts said the organisation could not make test results public but the public could “read between the lines”.“
“Chromosome tests showed that both boxers were ineligible.“ Roberts said.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Richard Pelham/Stringer
