‘Athletes gender testing is illegal’, says IOC spokesperson

Gender testing of athletes is illegal, stated International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesperson Mark Adams during a recent briefing. Adams said, “These tests are not legitimate. The very process and nature of these tests are not legitimate. They should not be publicly discussed. Even the manner in which these tests are conducted is illegal. I have no intention of commenting further on this.”

At daily @olympics briefing, spokesman Mark Adams confirms my reporting: IOC got @IBA_Boxing letter in June 2023. But Adams says without evidence tests are ‘not legitimate.’ I’ve seen Khelife, Lin tests. IOC knows, knew in 2023, New Delhi lab is CAP-accredited and ISO-certified

— Alan Abrahamson (@alanabrahamson) August 4, 2024

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He further added, “Athletes have all the necessary documentation. We cannot conduct additional tests during the competition, which is simply appalling, and even the reputation of the IBA (International Boxing Association) does not instill confidence in the test results.”

This statement comes amid controversy surrounding the participation of Algerian boxer Iman Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting in the Olympic women’s boxing tournament. Both athletes were disqualified from the 2023 World Championship due to failed gender tests, sparking widespread discussion within the sports community about the legitimacy and ethics of such testing.