02:31Mandatory credit: IOC News use only Content may only be used for up to 30 days following live broadcast
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach stated that he strongly welcomes a 'scientific solid system' to identify men and women amid a brewing gender storm at the Paris Olympics while speaking at a daily press briefing in the city on Friday.
He explained that the matter of 'intrusive' testing is not as simple as some 'in this culture war may now want to portray it'. He noted that it is not 'a question of inclusion' but 'a question of justice'.
"We had so-called sex tests until 1999, and then science has told us that they are not reliable anymore, that it does not work as it used to work with regard to the chromosomes and with regard to other measurements," the IOC President said. "We were also told that these kinds of tests can be against human rights because they are too intrusive," he added.
Bach said he would welcome outside assistance in determining man from woman, noting that the IOC doesn't 'like uncertainty'.
"We have said from the very beginning if somebody is presenting us a scientifically solid system how to identify men and women, we are the first ones to do it," Bach continued.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting were cleared to compete at the Paris Olympics despite being disqualified from last year's International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships, with the body citing high levels of testosterone as a determining factor.
Concerns over Khelif's eligibility came to a head when her Italian opponent Angelo Carini quit just 46 seconds into their Olympic bout, after being on the receiving end of a single blow. Carini explained she had never been 'hit so hard' and 'couldn't finish the match' as she had to 'preserve her life'. Khelif went on to secure gold in the women's 66 kg final at the Paris Olympics on Friday, defeating China’s Yang Liu with a unanimous points decision.
The IOC released a statement, noting that all athletes 'comply with the competition's eligibility and entry regulations'. "As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport," it continued. IOC President Bach also claimed that a social media campaign of 'hate speech', 'aggression and abuse' against the two athletes was 'totally unacceptable'.
In 2019, the IOC temporarily revoked the IBA's status as the sport's world governing body, questioning its transparency under the leadership of its Russian president Umar Kremlev. Bach claimed last week that 'the Russian side' is leading 'a defamation campaign against France, against the games, against the IOC'.
IBA president Umar Kremlev announced last weekend that the IOC is 'killing women's sports', inviting Bach to 'leave the International Olympic Committee, resign and create a transgender association' for female athletes with XY chromosomes to compete on an even playing field
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also stated following Khelif's bout with Carini that "Athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not participate in women's competitions. Not because we want to discriminate against anyone, but to protect the rights of female athletes to compete on equal terms".
Meanwhile, Two-time Russian boxing champion Azalia Amineva on Thursday challenged Khelif to a rematch to 'stand up for everyone', following Carini's decision to quit the sport following her bout with the Algerian. Amineva lost to Khelif in a fight at the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships in India.
Khelif, a 25-year-old UNICEF ambassador, was born and raised in rural Algeria. She reached the quarter-finals of the 2020 Olympics before finishing second in the Women's World Boxing Championships in 2022.
IOC president calls for 'scientifically solid system' to 'identify men and women' amid Olympic boxing gender row
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach stated that he strongly welcomes a 'scientific solid system' to identify men and women amid a brewing gender storm at the Paris Olympics while speaking at a daily press briefing in the city on Friday.
He explained that the matter of 'intrusive' testing is not as simple as some 'in this culture war may now want to portray it'. He noted that it is not 'a question of inclusion' but 'a question of justice'.
"We had so-called sex tests until 1999, and then science has told us that they are not reliable anymore, that it does not work as it used to work with regard to the chromosomes and with regard to other measurements," the IOC President said. "We were also told that these kinds of tests can be against human rights because they are too intrusive," he added.
Bach said he would welcome outside assistance in determining man from woman, noting that the IOC doesn't 'like uncertainty'.
"We have said from the very beginning if somebody is presenting us a scientifically solid system how to identify men and women, we are the first ones to do it," Bach continued.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting were cleared to compete at the Paris Olympics despite being disqualified from last year's International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships, with the body citing high levels of testosterone as a determining factor.
Concerns over Khelif's eligibility came to a head when her Italian opponent Angelo Carini quit just 46 seconds into their Olympic bout, after being on the receiving end of a single blow. Carini explained she had never been 'hit so hard' and 'couldn't finish the match' as she had to 'preserve her life'. Khelif went on to secure gold in the women's 66 kg final at the Paris Olympics on Friday, defeating China’s Yang Liu with a unanimous points decision.
The IOC released a statement, noting that all athletes 'comply with the competition's eligibility and entry regulations'. "As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport," it continued. IOC President Bach also claimed that a social media campaign of 'hate speech', 'aggression and abuse' against the two athletes was 'totally unacceptable'.
In 2019, the IOC temporarily revoked the IBA's status as the sport's world governing body, questioning its transparency under the leadership of its Russian president Umar Kremlev. Bach claimed last week that 'the Russian side' is leading 'a defamation campaign against France, against the games, against the IOC'.
IBA president Umar Kremlev announced last weekend that the IOC is 'killing women's sports', inviting Bach to 'leave the International Olympic Committee, resign and create a transgender association' for female athletes with XY chromosomes to compete on an even playing field
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also stated following Khelif's bout with Carini that "Athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not participate in women's competitions. Not because we want to discriminate against anyone, but to protect the rights of female athletes to compete on equal terms".
Meanwhile, Two-time Russian boxing champion Azalia Amineva on Thursday challenged Khelif to a rematch to 'stand up for everyone', following Carini's decision to quit the sport following her bout with the Algerian. Amineva lost to Khelif in a fight at the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships in India.
Khelif, a 25-year-old UNICEF ambassador, was born and raised in rural Algeria. She reached the quarter-finals of the 2020 Olympics before finishing second in the Women's World Boxing Championships in 2022.
Mandatory credit: IOC News use only Content may only be used for up to 30 days following live broadcast
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach stated that he strongly welcomes a 'scientific solid system' to identify men and women amid a brewing gender storm at the Paris Olympics while speaking at a daily press briefing in the city on Friday.
He explained that the matter of 'intrusive' testing is not as simple as some 'in this culture war may now want to portray it'. He noted that it is not 'a question of inclusion' but 'a question of justice'.
"We had so-called sex tests until 1999, and then science has told us that they are not reliable anymore, that it does not work as it used to work with regard to the chromosomes and with regard to other measurements," the IOC President said. "We were also told that these kinds of tests can be against human rights because they are too intrusive," he added.
Bach said he would welcome outside assistance in determining man from woman, noting that the IOC doesn't 'like uncertainty'.
"We have said from the very beginning if somebody is presenting us a scientifically solid system how to identify men and women, we are the first ones to do it," Bach continued.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting were cleared to compete at the Paris Olympics despite being disqualified from last year's International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships, with the body citing high levels of testosterone as a determining factor.
Concerns over Khelif's eligibility came to a head when her Italian opponent Angelo Carini quit just 46 seconds into their Olympic bout, after being on the receiving end of a single blow. Carini explained she had never been 'hit so hard' and 'couldn't finish the match' as she had to 'preserve her life'. Khelif went on to secure gold in the women's 66 kg final at the Paris Olympics on Friday, defeating China’s Yang Liu with a unanimous points decision.
The IOC released a statement, noting that all athletes 'comply with the competition's eligibility and entry regulations'. "As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passport," it continued. IOC President Bach also claimed that a social media campaign of 'hate speech', 'aggression and abuse' against the two athletes was 'totally unacceptable'.
In 2019, the IOC temporarily revoked the IBA's status as the sport's world governing body, questioning its transparency under the leadership of its Russian president Umar Kremlev. Bach claimed last week that 'the Russian side' is leading 'a defamation campaign against France, against the games, against the IOC'.
IBA president Umar Kremlev announced last weekend that the IOC is 'killing women's sports', inviting Bach to 'leave the International Olympic Committee, resign and create a transgender association' for female athletes with XY chromosomes to compete on an even playing field
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also stated following Khelif's bout with Carini that "Athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not participate in women's competitions. Not because we want to discriminate against anyone, but to protect the rights of female athletes to compete on equal terms".
Meanwhile, Two-time Russian boxing champion Azalia Amineva on Thursday challenged Khelif to a rematch to 'stand up for everyone', following Carini's decision to quit the sport following her bout with the Algerian. Amineva lost to Khelif in a fight at the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships in India.
Khelif, a 25-year-old UNICEF ambassador, was born and raised in rural Algeria. She reached the quarter-finals of the 2020 Olympics before finishing second in the Women's World Boxing Championships in 2022.