- Caitlin Parker is not happy with the endorsement of two boxers
- Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting failed gender tests last year
- Olympic chiefs allowed the pair to compete in Paris
Caitlin Parker believes the Olympics’ approval of two boxers who failed gender eligibility tests is “incredibly dangerous” ahead of a potential showdown with one of her teammates in Paris.
Australian boxing captain Parker led from the front on Wednesday, dominating Mexican Vanessa Ortiz with a unanimous points decision to reach the quarter-finals of the 75kg division.
This followed an earlier loss for Shannan Davey to Bulgarian Rami Mofid, with Charlie Senior still due to fight later in the day.
Marissa Williamson will make her Olympic debut on Wednesday in the women’s 66kg division which is now in the spotlight after the International Olympic Committee confirmed that two boxers who were disqualified from last year’s world championships for failing gender eligibility tests will be allowed to fight in Paris.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif (66kg) and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting (57kg) were banned by the International Boxing Association, which has since lost Olympic sanctioning power over integrity concerns.
The IBA said chromosome tests on the boxers had returned XY, which is normally the male chromosome, rather than the XX of a female.
The IOC is in charge of the Paris boxing programme and has instructed the sport to find a new sanctioning body early next year to ensure the sport’s future at the Games.
Caitlin Parker hits out at Olympics bosses over controversial decision
Two female boxers who failed gender tests were admitted to the Olympics
Williamson and Khelif will meet in the quarter-finals if they both win on Wednesday.
“I don’t agree with them being allowed to compete in sports, especially combat sports,” Parker said.
“It can be incredibly dangerous. I don’t agree with that.
“It’s not that I haven’t sparred before, but you know it can be dangerous for combat sports and should be seriously studied.”
‘Yes, biologically… genetically they will have more advantages and in combat sports it can be dangerous.’ I really hope that the organisations get their act together so that boxing can continue to be in the Olympic Games.
“It’s the oldest Olympic sport. Women’s boxing was only introduced in 2012 and I want to see it continue for the next 100 or 200 years.”
Australian boxing trainer Santiago Nieva said there would be no complaints if the two met in the ring.
“She was disqualified, but I haven’t seen her fail any gender tests,” he said.
‘The IOC said they are meeting the IOC criteria, so that’s the only thing you can go by.
Australian boxing captain Parker unimpressed by controversial decision
‘We fought her two months ago. She’s good, she’s tough, she’s strong, but I didn’t feel like we were fighting a man.
‘We are prepared to fight anyone we face here.
‘I understand that this issue is not as black and white as many people want to make it out to be.
“We don’t have all the information, so I don’t want to speculate on it. We’ve competed against them before, we’ve fought against them before. We’re ready to do it again and beat them.”
