Martina Navratilova slams IOC for allowing alleged male boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting to compete against females as it is “despicable and dangerous”

Martina Navratilova once again condemned the IOC after Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting won the gold medal in the women's 57kg category.

Martina Navratilova slams IOC for allowing alleged male boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting to compete against females as it is “despicable and dangerous”

Martina Navratilova, Lin Yu-ting (Images via Imago, X)

Martina Navratilova slammed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Yu-ting unanimously beat Poland’s Julia Szeremeta to emerge as champion in the women’s 57kg event. 

Though Yu-ting is a two-time world champion, she failed to clinch the gold at the Olympics before Paris. This victory came after Algerian boxer Imane Khelif won the gold in the women’s 66kg category by defeating China’s Yang Liu. Both of these boxers entered Paris amidst controversy around their gender. 

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They allegedly failed unspecified gender tests conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA), who claimed they had found male chromosomes and high levels of testosterone in the boxers’ bodies. This prompted criticism from many, including Navratilova, on social media. 

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Navratilova, who believes these two boxers are ‘males’, kept censuring the IOC for allowing them to play in the women’s category. When Yu-ting won the gold, the former tennis star again reiterated how dangerous it is for females in a sport like boxing where the ‘males’ punch them. 

This is what happens when you let males compete against females. And in boxing in particular- you don’t need any technique, really- because your punch is so much harder than anything coming at you. Despicable. And dangerous.
Martina Navratilova wrote on X

Check her post here:

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Martina Navratilova continues to criticize IOC for Imane Khelif, Lin Yu-ting gender controversy 

As mentioned before, the IBA’s gender tests on Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting disqualified them from the world championships last year. The IBA however was stripped of its status by the IOC in June 2023 due to corruption issues.

Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova (Image via Imago)

When the gender controversy erupted around these two boxers, IOC President Thomas Bach in a press conference claimed these boxers were born as female and have been competing in the women’s category. Bach also criticized IBA for its treatment of women.

As these boxers took away the gold medals, it invited fresh criticism, for many are saying women boxers were robbed of the gold medals because of them. Martina Navratilova continued to blame the IOC in another tweet.

What a coincidence that both boxers who were not allowed to compete at IBA events now take the Olympic gold at the Olympics under the “watchful” eye of IOC rules- all comers with the right passport are welcome.
Martina Navratilova wrote on X

Check her post here:

Khelif has filed a complaint for being a victim of online harassment. Yu-ting may also do the same as she would decide after talking with her team.

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