The championships
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Paris Olympics: IOC Chief Defends Boxers Caught In Gender Row, Says Won't Tolerate 'politically Motivated Cultural War'
IOC President Thomas Bach: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has defended the participation of boxers, Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting in the Paris 2024 Olympics despite being 'biologically male'. The controversy centres around the eligibility of Khelif, from Algeria, and Lin, a Taiwanese double world champion, both of whom were previously disqualified from the 2023 World Championships for failing the International Boxing Association's (IBA) eligibility criteria.
The IBA's rules exclude athletes with male XY chromosomes, medically considered as biologically male, from competing in women's events, which led to the disqualification of Khelif and Lin despite their longstanding status as female competitors.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Bach affirmed the IOC's position, emphasizing that both athletes were born, raised, and recognized as women legally and professionally.
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