Olympic approval of two boxers who failed gender and testosterone eligibility tests is “‘incredibly dangerous”, according to one leading woman fighter.
Australia’s boxing captain Caitlin Parker voiced her fears as one of her team-mates is fighting in the same 66kg weight category as Imane Khelif.
“I don’t agree with them being allowed to compete in sport, especially combat sports,” Parker said, having just reached the quarter-finals in the 75kg division with a unanimous points victory over Mexico’s Vanessa Ortiz.
“It can be incredibly dangerous. I don’t agree with it. It’s not like I haven’t sparred men before. But you know it can be dangerous for combat sports and it should be seriously looked into.”
Studies show higher testosterone carries a huge safety risk for women in any combat sport.
Men, the science shows, punch 2.6 times harder than women; the biggest documented performance advantage in any sport.
“Yes, biologically … genetically they are going to have more advantages and in combat sports it can be dangerous,” said Parker. “I really hope the organisations get their act together so that boxing can continue to be at the Olympics.
“It’s the oldest Olympic sport. Women’s boxing was only introduced in 2012 and I want to see it for the next 100, 200 years to come.”
Australian boxing coach Santiago Nieva said, in contrast with Parker, that there would be no complaints if Williamson met the Algerian in the ring.
[Ed: I am proud to see it is Australia’s women’s boxing captain who has had the courage to speak out first. A true leader – unlike her coach.]
Source: Rival hits out at ‘incredibly dangerous’ boxers who failed gender tests outside Olympics
The boxing ‘coach’ is a man.
This idea of allowing xy men to compete as biological women will lead to the demise of many women’s sports!Presumably,that’s the intention?
How is it not an OH&S matter?
This has to stop right away, any female should refuse immediately to go into such an denial of scientific facts of the female biology! Even if she can win, that keeps the idea that there is no biological difference between female and male biology. Which is an anti-female ideology!