Jaime Schultz does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. And do those criteria give Khelif and Lin competitive advantages? They include policies that regulate doping and genetic enhancement, set age limits and weight classes and, in the case of Parasports, establish classes for competition.
But history shows that there are no conclusive ways to determine sex — and no consensus over the extent to which the distinction matters. In the s, some athletic organizations briefly required gynecological exams and visual inspections of unclothed women before turning, in , to sex chromatin tests that looked specifically for female-typical XX sex chromosomes. Yet every version of sex testing collapses under scrutiny. Each Olympic sport is governed by its own international federation, and the International Olympic Committee permits each federation to establish its own eligibility criteria when it comes to issues such as age, citizenship and sex.
First, the boxing association was not acting in accordance with its official regulations. Those same requirements also allowed the two women to compete in the Olympic Games, where Khelif finished in fifth place and Lin finished ninth.
Boxing has been among the slowest sports to add opportunities for women. Women first competed in Olympic boxing at the London Games, under just three weight classes. In comparison, men fought in 10 different weight categories. The Rio Games saw the same disparity. By the Games, there were five categories for women and eight for men. To return to the issue of protection: Who or what do sex-based regulations protect?
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Do they protect a never-level, level playing field? Sport itself? But these are personal, intimate details that, in my view, should be respected and remain private. What we do know is that the furor has far-reaching consequences. It can divide people. At a Games that has so brilliantly showcased and celebrated female Olympians, I see the debate over Khelif and Lin as distracting as it is heartbreaking. Edition: Available editions Europe. Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in.
