Australian boxer and featherweight champion Skye Nicolson has spoken out in support of two boxers, Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan, who are at the center of a gender eligibility controversy at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Nicolson, who also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, took to social media to defend the two athletes after it was revealed that they were previously disqualified from the 2023 International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Championships due to a positive test for “XY chromosomes.”
In a series of videos posted on her Instagram story, Nicolson emphasized that both boxers were born as females with XY chromosomes but have the physical attributes of females. She highlighted that they have always competed as women and should not be subjected to mistreatment and scrutiny from the media and the public. Nicolson pointed out that both athletes have been beaten by female competitors in the past, which goes against the notion that they have a competitive advantage over women.
Despite the IBA’s stance that Khelif and Lin have advantages that should disqualify them from competing against women, Nicolson argued that if they were truly men, they would be dominating every fight, which is not the case. She defended the athletes’ right to participate in the Olympics and criticized the abuse and negative attention they have received.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has supported the inclusion of Khelif and Lin in the 2024 Paris Games, with President Thomas Bach reaffirming that there was never any doubt about their gender. Bach condemned the hate speech and aggression directed towards the athletes on social media, emphasizing that the IOC will not engage in politically motivated cultural wars. He clarified that the case involving Khelif and Lin is not a transgender issue but rather a matter of a woman participating in a women’s competition.
Overall, Nicolson’s defense of Khelif and Lin sheds light on the complexities of gender eligibility in sports and calls for fair treatment and respect for all athletes, regardless of their genetic makeup. The controversy surrounding the two boxers underscores the need for a deeper understanding of gender diversity and inclusion in the world of sports.