Author JK Rowling has slammed the Head of the Safe Sport Unit at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday. Rowling responded to a video posted by IOC Media where Kirsty Burrows discussed how the 2024 Paris Olympics is tackling mental health.
Burrows explained how the 2024 Paris Olympics offered “the most comprehensive package of mental health and safeguarding initiatives”. The Harry Potter author criticised the video and labelled the IOC’s safeguarding “a joke”. “A young female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because you allowed a male to get in the ring with her.
You’re a disgrace, your ‘safeguarding’ is a joke and #Paris24 will be forever tarnished by the brutal injustice done to Carini,” she wrote. On Thursday, Algeria’s Imane Khelif defeated Italy’s Angela Carini after just 46 seconds. Carini decided to end the match in under a minute after taking several punches to the head by Khelif.
Joining me now is Sky News contributor Kosher Gator. Let’s start with the Olympics, where Australia’s female boxing captain, Caitlyn Parker, has criticized the decision to approve two boxers who failed gender eligibility tests. Parker has called the decision “incredibly dangerous.”
The two boxers in question, competing in the female category, had previously failed gender tests set by the International Boxing Association, which determined that their chromosomes were XY rather than the XX typical of females. Parker is adding her voice to a growing number of female boxers condemning the Olympics’ decision to let these athletes compete.
Gold medalist American boxer Claressa Shields took to Twitter to express her disapproval: “So they got men fighting against women in the Olympics. I wouldn’t have stood for that. It is so heartbreaking to the women who have their dreams ruined by a man. Sad.” The sentiment is echoed by many who find the situation distressing and unacceptable.
The optics of having a male boxer compete against women—and potentially win a medal—are shocking and outrageous. Later, I will discuss this issue with a women’s rights campaigner who has strong opinions on the matter. The idea of a man physically dominating a woman in a boxing match, and possibly being awarded a medal, is absurd on every level.
We’ve seen similar issues in other sports, such as a case in the US where a high school female volleyball player was seriously injured by a biologically male player spiking the ball. Extrapolating this situation to boxing, where the physical risks are even greater, highlights the seriousness of the problem.
It’s crucial to clarify the language used in these debates. As you pointed out, the issue isn’t merely about passing a gender eligibility test; it’s about the biological reality of XY versus XX chromosomes. This distinction is essential and needs to be clearly communicated.
Unfortunately, it seems that only drastic measures might lead to change. It might take a high-profile protest or a significant injury to prompt action. The current tweets and statements, while important, may not be enough. Imagine if all female boxers or athletes completely boycotted the Olympics over this issue. Such a collective stance could potentially draw enough attention to force change.
At the end of the day, a unified refusal by women to compete under these conditions might be the only way to address this inequality and ensure fair competition in female categories.
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