Caitlyn Jenner has slammed the International Olympic Committee (IOC), saying that it should feel ashamed of itself for allowing Imane Khelif to compete against women at the 2024 Paris Olympics after the Algerian boxer failed a gender test last year.
On Thursday, Khelif landed in hot water in France after she dominated the women’s 66-kilogram division following a win over Italy’s Angela Carini in just 46 seconds.
After the match, Carini said she was left with no choice but to forfeit, as she claimed that she was fighting for her life in the ring against Khelif, who was barred from the 2023 World Championships after tests revealed that she had male XY chromosomes.
Thomas Bach – the President of the IOC – came out in staunch defense of Khelif’s inclusion in women’s sports, as critics lay into the 25-year-old for competing at the Games.
And Jenner – a gold medalist in the 1976 men’s decathlon as Bruce Jenner – says Khelif’s continued participation at Olympic events has ‘hurt’ the competition.
Caitlyn Jenner didn’t hold back against the IOC when discussing the future of women’s sports
She said the inclusion of Imane Khelif’s in women’s boxing is only ‘hurting’ competition in Paris
'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
‘This issue has hurt the Olympic Games so much. … Everyone’s talking about,’ Jenner told Fox News on Friday, adding that the ordeal has taken away the spotlight from what athletes have accomplished this summer, so far.
‘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 next scheduled to fight against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng, Tuesday, in the quarterfinals.
She defeated Luca Anna Hamori, of Hungary, by a score of 5-0 on Saturday.
The IOC defended Khelif’s eligibility before her Round of 16 matchup this weekend, as fellow boxer Lin Yu-Ting, of Taiwan, has also been subjected to controversy due to the same reasons as Khelif.
‘These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the (International Boxing Association),’ the IOC said of Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting fighting in 2023.
‘Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process.’
Meanwhile, Australia’s Skye Nicholson, who turned pro after Tokyo, called Carini’s actions a ‘publicity stunt’.
‘They were born female,’ she said of Khelif and Yu-Ting, both of whom she has sparred with. ‘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.
‘These are not naturally born men who have decided to call themselves women or identify as women to fight women.’
