Khelif won in the 2024 Paris Olympics despite the AIA’s ban.
Caitlyn Jenner, known for winning Olympic gold in the men’s decathlon before transitioning to a transgender woman, has spoken out against the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to allow Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to compete in the female category at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Jenner believes that the controversy surrounding Khelif is damaging to the integrity of the Olympics.
Her comments come in response to Khelif’s recent dominant performance in the women’s 66-kilogram division.
Imane Khelif, who was born with a condition that prevented the development of ovaries, was excluded from the 2023 World Championships after tests revealed the presence of male XY chromosomes.
The controversy escalated after she defeated Italian boxer Angela Carini in just 46 seconds. Carini broke down in tears, claiming that Khelif’s power overwhelmed her, forcing her to abandon the fight, saying she felt like she was “fighting for her life” against Khelif.
The situation intensified when Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, defended Khelif’s inclusion in women’s sports despite the criticism.
Jenner, who won the gold medal in the men’s decathlon in 1976 as Bruce Jenner, expressed her dissatisfaction during an interview with Fox News, a network known for its conservative viewpoints.
“This issue has greatly harmed the Olympics. Everyone is talking about it,” Jenner said.
“Shame on the IOC for not protecting the integrity of women’s sports, and shame on the IOC for not ensuring the safety of female athletes.”
Khelif is set to face Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in the quarterfinals on Tuesday after her recent 5-0 victory over Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori.
The IOC has consistently defended Khelif’s participation
The IOC has consistently defended Khelif’s participation, emphasizing fairness and the due process that she was allegedly denied during her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships.
Similarly, Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting has also been involved in a similar controversy due to the presence of XY chromosomes.Similarly, Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting has also been involved in a similar controversy due to the presence of XY chromosomes.
Both athletes were disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) last year, a decision that the IOC deemed “sudden and arbitrary.”
IOC Supports Athletes Amid Backlash
Despite the backlash, IOC President Thomas Bach maintains that Khelif and Yu-Ting were born and raised as women and have competed as women for many years.
“We have two boxers who were born as women, who were raised as women, who have women’s passports, and who have competed for many years as women,” Bach stated.
Bach strongly condemned the hostile rhetoric surrounding the issue, declaring, “What we see now is that some want to take ownership of the definition of who is a woman. All this hate speech, aggression, and abuse… is completely unacceptable.”
The debate continues, as Australian boxer Skye Nicholson, who has competed against both Khelif and Yu-Ting, defended their participation, calling Carini’s actions a “publicity stunt.”
Nicholson stated, “They were born women. They were born with an XY chromosome, which is the male chromosome, but they were born with female bodies, they have the physical attributes of a woman.”
While the IOC and supporters of Khelif and Yu-Ting defend their rightful inclusion, critics like Jenner argue that the decision undermines the integrity and safety of women’s sports.
