The reinstatement of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, who were disqualified from the 2023 World Championships for failing to meet sex-testing standards, has ignited a heated debate about transphobia in sports. Despite both athletes being cisgender women who meet the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) criteria, their participation has been met with unwarranted attacks and discriminatory remarks from anti-trans advocates and certain media outlets.
Khelif, a biologically female boxer from Algeria, is set to compete in the Paris Olympics despite facing unwarranted transphobic attacks after her victory against Angela Carini. The International Olympic Committee confirmed Khelif’s eligibility, emphasizing their commitment to protecting the human rights of all athletes. This decision follows the International Boxing Association’s controversial disqualification of Khelif in 2023 due to failed gender eligibility testing, a decision the IOC has criticized as “sudden and arbitrary.” Despite the controversy and unfounded accusations, Khelif’s biological sex as a woman remains undisputed, and her participation in the Olympics is a testament to the IOC’s dedication to fairness and inclusivity in sports.
“Imane has been beaten by 9 other women before this game,” said X user @Madebabyyyyy_ on Thursday. “Imane is a woman biologically and this attempt to ridicule trans people by projecting transness on a ciswoman and it’s in a bid to further transphobic discourse? It’s vile.”
Despite past disqualification due to a disputed gender eligibility test, Lin Yu-ting, a Taiwanese boxer who has always identified and competed as a woman, will join Khelif at the Paris Olympics.
This controversy echoes a broader pattern of transphobia in sports, where the eligibility of cisgender women athletes is often questioned and scrutinized due to misplaced fears about transgender women’s participation. While the IOC’s decision to allow Khelif and Lin to compete in the Paris Olympics should be celebrated as a victory for fairness and inclusion, it has instead become a platform for transphobic rhetoric and harmful misinformation.
The attacks on Khelif and Lin highlight the ongoing challenges faced by all women athletes, particularly those whose appearances or abilities defy traditional gender norms and expectations. By falsely labeling them as “men” or “biological males,” these critics not only erase their identities but also perpetuate harmful stereotypes about women’s bodies and athleticism. This reveals a deeply ingrained bias that undermines the progress made towards gender equality in athletics.
“Whether female athletes are attacked with misogyny or transphobia, the intersection between the two exists because of the rigid gender standards women have been held to for centuries,” wrote student journalist Logan Adams on The Post Athens in February, regarding the online spaces where the achievements of female WNBA athletes like Caitlin Clark, Brittney Griner, and Sabrina Ionescu are overshadowed by hateful comments and discriminatory remarks.
The debate surrounding sex-testing in sports has reignited with the reinstatement of Khelif and Lin, has also raised questions about the reliance on biological markers like hormone levels and chromosomal variations to determine eligibility. While these factors can influence athletic performance, their use in defining an athlete’s gender and right to compete raises concerns about fairness, inclusivity, and the potential for discrimination.
“Many women can have testosterone which will be called ‘male levels’ and still be women and still compete as women. This idea that you do one test for testosterone and that sorts everything out? Not the case I’m afraid,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters.
10 times it’s happened
The controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s Olympic eligibility, fueled by transphobic rhetoric despite her being a cisgender woman, is not an isolated incident. It exemplifies a broader pattern where transphobia has repeatedly overshadowed the accomplishments and struggles of women athletes. Here are 10 other instances where transphobia hijacked the narrative:
Dutee Chand: In 2014, Chand was barred from competing due to naturally high testosterone levels, sparking a landmark legal battle that challenged the validity and fairness of such regulations. Chand’s victory ultimately led to a reassessment of sex-testing policies, highlighting the potential for discrimination and the need for more nuanced and inclusive approaches in determining athlete eligibility.
Caster Semenya: The South African middle-distance runner, has faced similar scrutiny and discrimination throughout her career. Despite being legally recognized as female, Semenya’s naturally high testosterone levels have led to numerous challenges to her eligibility, including invasive testing and regulations that forced her to medically alter her hormone levels to compete.
Annet Negesa: In 2012, the Ugandan middle-distance runner was coerced into undergoing unnecessary surgery to lower her naturally high testosterone levels in order to continue competing. The procedure ended her career and caused significant physical and psychological harm, highlighting the devastating consequences of prioritizing biological conformity over an athlete’s well-being and autonomy. In 2012, Negesa was coerced into undergoing unnecessary surgery to lower her naturally high testosterone levels in order to continue competing. The procedure ended her career and caused significant physical and psychological harm, highlighting the devastating consequences of prioritizing biological conformity over an athlete’s well-being and autonomy.
Maximilia Imali: The Kenyan sprinter and biologically female athlete was removed from Kenya’s World Relays team in 2019 after being found to have high testosterone levels due to a Difference of Sexual Development (DSD). Imali has since switched to competing in events not subject to World Athletics’ DSD regulations.
Lia Thomas: The University of Pennsylvania swimmer’s historic NCAA win in 2002 was met with transphobic backlash and calls for her exclusion, overshadowing her athletic achievements and the significance of her victory for trans athletes.
Laurel Hubbard: The New Zealand weightlifter became the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the Olympics in 2021. Despite meeting all eligibility requirements, her participation was met with transphobic protests and calls for her disqualification, detracting from her historic achievement.
CeCe Telfer: CeCe Telfer, a transgender track athlete, won the NCAA Division II women’s 400-meter hurdles championship in 2019, becoming the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA title. However, her victory sparked controversy and debate about the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, with some critics questioning the fairness of her participation and calling for stricter regulations on transgender athletes in collegiate sports.
Andraya Yearwood and Terry Miller: The Connecticut high school track stars, both transgender girls, faced legal challenges and discriminatory backlash from opponents who claimed they had an unfair advantage after achieving success in girls’ track events. Despite facing adversity, Yearwood and Miller persevered and continued to compete, becoming symbols of resilience and advocates for transgender inclusion in athletics.
Fallon Fox: The first openly transgender MMA fighter, faced significant controversy and transphobic backlash during her career. Critics argued that her participation in women’s MMA was unfair due to perceived physical advantages resulting from her transition. She faced transphobic backlash and calls for her ban from the sport, despite her compliance with medical guidelines and regulations.
The entire transgender athlete community: Transgender athletes at all levels continue to face discrimination, exclusion, and harassment, often fueled by transphobic rhetoric and misinformation. This ongoing discrimination overshadows their individual stories, struggles, and achievements, perpetuating a harmful narrative that denies their right to participate in sports.
Ultimately, the controversy surrounding Khelif and Lin’s Olympic eligibility serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for inclusivity and fairness in sports. While progress towards a more welcoming environment for all athletes is evident, the controversy underscores the ongoing challenges and the need for continued dialogue and policy development to ensure equitable participation for athletes of all gender identities and biological characteristics.
As the world watches the Paris Olympics unfold, it remains to be seen how these ongoing conversations will shape the future of sports, and what steps will be taken to create a truly inclusive and equitable environment for all athletes.
