Skye Nicolson, the Australian featherweight boxing champ, has stepped into the heated debate surrounding gender eligibility in the Olympics. Nicolson, who clinched the WBC featherweight title earlier this year, took to her Instagram story to address the controversy involving boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting.
Khelif and Yu-Ting, both embroiled in this summer’s Olympic gender dispute, were initially disqualified from the 2023 world championships after tests allegedly revealed they had male XY chromosomes.
Despite this, they were cleared to compete in the women’s category at the Paris Games. This decision has sparked considerable backlash from various figures online and in the media.
In her video, Nicolson defended Khelif and Yu-Ting, stating they were born female and had female bodies despite the chromosome findings. She criticized critics for their lack of understanding and premature judgments.
Nicolson clarified, “I’ve fought and sparred with both of these athletes. They were born female, have female physical attributes, and have lived as women their entire lives.”
Clarifying the Tests
Nicolson elaborated that the chromosome tests conducted at the world championships were not testosterone tests and didn’t reflect the athletes’ physical attributes.
She emphasized that the controversy was exacerbated by media and public reactions rather than factual understanding. “These athletes have represented their country as female fighters for years and don’t deserve this kind of scrutiny,” Nicolson added.
The Olympic Stage
Khelif’s recent performance saw her easily overpower Italy’s Angela Carini in just 46 seconds, while Yu-Ting won her bout against Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova by points. These matches have intensified the debate.
Official Responses
In response to the uproar, the International Boxing Association (IBA) stated that their decisions were based on a “meticulous review.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) then issued a statement affirming that all participating athletes meet the eligibility and medical regulations set for the Games.
The IOC also criticized the IBA for the abrupt disqualification process during the 2023 world championships, noting the decision was initially made unilaterally by the IBA Secretary General and CEO.
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