Caitlyn Jenner, renowned for her Olympic gold in the men’s decathlon before transitioning, has voiced strong criticism against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for its decision to allow Algerian boxer Imane Khelif to compete in the women’s category at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Caitlyn Jenner: Khelif’s scandal is hurting the Olympic Games
Jenner’s remarks come in response to Khelif’s recent dominating performance in the women’s 66-kilogram division.
Imane Khelif, who was barred from the 2023 World Championships after tests revealed the presence of male XY chromosomes, faced backlash after defeating Italy’s Angela Carini in just 46 seconds.
Carini claimed she had no choice but to forfeit the match, stating she felt she was “fighting for her life” against Khelif.
The controversy intensified when Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, defended Khelif’s inclusion in women’s sports, despite the criticisms.
Jenner, who won gold in the 1976 men’s decathlon as Bruce Jenner, expressed her discontent during an interview with Fox News.
“This issue has hurt the Olympic Games so much. Everyone’s talking about it,”Jenner remarked.
“Shame on the IOC for not protecting the integrity of women’s sports, and shame on the IOC for not protecting the safety of women’s sports.”
Khelif is scheduled to fight Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, following her recent victory over Hungary’s Luca Anna Hamori by a score of 5-0.
The IOC has consistently defended Khelif’s eligibility, emphasizing the fairness and due process that was allegedly denied during the disqualification at the 2023 World Championships.
Alongside Khelif, Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting has also been embroiled in similar controversy due to the presence of XY chromosomes.
Both athletes were disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) last year, a decision the IOC deemed “sudden and arbitrary.”
‘SHAME ON THE IOC’: @Caitlyn_Jenner explains why the International Olympic Committee was “absolutely” wrong to allow Imane Khelif to compete against women, even after the Algerian boxer failed a gender test. pic.twitter.com/qZiU7c0Cy1
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 2, 2024
IOC backs athletes amid backlash
Despite the backlash, IOC President 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 have been raised as women, who have a passport as a woman, and who have competed for many years as women,” Bach asserted.
Bach condemned the hostile rhetoric surrounding the issue, stating, “What we see now is that some want to own the definition of who is a woman. All this hate speech, aggression, and abuse … is totally unacceptable.”
The debate continues as Australia’s Skye Nicholson, who has sparred with both Khelif and Yu-Ting, defended their participation, dismissing Carini’s actions as a “publicity stunt.”
Nicholson stated, “They were born female. 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 female.”
While the IOC and supporters of Khelif and Yu-Ting argue for their rightful inclusion, critics like Jenner maintain that the decision goes against the integrity and safety of women’s sports.
