Australian boxer Skye Nicolson defends boxers at center of gender eligibility controversy at 2024 Paris Olympics
Australian boxer and featherweight champion Skye Nicolson has spoken out in defense of two boxers, Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who have been embroiled in a gender eligibility controversy at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Nicolson, who competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, took to social media to address the situation after it was revealed that both athletes were previously disqualified from the 2023 International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Championships over alleged positive tests for “XY chromosomes.”
In a series of videos posted to her Instagram story, Nicolson emphasized that both boxers were born female and have competed as women their entire lives. She argued against the mistreatment they have faced in the media and defended their right to compete as female athletes.
The IBA has maintained that Khelif and Lin have competitive advantages that should prevent them from competing against women, but Nicolson pointed out that both boxers have been defeated by female opponents in the past, disproving the notion that they have an unfair advantage.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has supported the participation of Khelif and Lin in the 2024 Paris Games, with President Thomas Bach stating that there was “never any doubt” about their gender. Bach condemned the hate speech and abuse directed towards the boxers on social media, emphasizing that the controversy is not a transgender case but rather a differences in sex development (DSD) case.
Nicolson’s defense of Khelif and Lin highlights the complexities and sensitivities surrounding gender eligibility in sports, as athletes continue to navigate issues of fairness and inclusion on the world stage.
