Ebanie Bridges gives four-word reaction to Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting fighting for gold at Paris Olympics
Ebanie Bridges recently reacted to the news that Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting will compete for gold in their respective matches at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Algeria's Khelif secured her place in the Olympic boxing finals by defeating Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng in the welterweight division, while Taiwan's Yu-Ting advanced by overcoming Turkey's Esra Yildiz in a featherweight bout against the backdrop of a significant gender controversy.
The 2024 Paris Boxing Unit (PBU) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are facing intense backlash on social media for allowing Khelif and Yu-Ting to compete in women's events at this year's Olympics despite their previous suspensions for failing gender eligibility tests.
Amid the unwelcome scrutiny, both boxers have excelled in their Olympic bouts, advancing to the final stage of the competition. Khelif is slated to face China’s Yang Liu on Friday, while Yu-Ting will battle Poland’s Julia Szeremeta in Saturday’s final.
Former IBF female bantamweight champion Bridges recently turned to X to react to the upcoming gold medal bouts featuring Khelif and Yu-Ting, delivering a sharp remark that appeared to take a jab at the discourse surrounding their gender eligibility. She wrote:
"XY for the win."
Check out Ebanie Bridges' post below:
Khelif previously faced disqualification mere hours before her gold medal match at the Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India in March last year after failing a gender verification test that indicated the presence of XY chromosomes, as mandated by the International Boxing Association (IBA). Likewise, Yu-Ting had her bronze medal stripped at the same event under similar circumstances. It is worth mentioning that no evidence of their failed gender eligibility test was provided by IBA.
In June 2023, the IOC revoked the IBA's authority to govern international amateur boxing. This critical decision opened the door for both boxers to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
What is PBU and IOC's position on the eligibility of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting?
The PBU and IOC recently released a joint statement addressing the controversy regarding Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting's participation in this year's Olympic Games.
In the statement, the IOC emphasized that all athletes participating in this year's boxing tournament fully comply with the established eligibility criteria. Their eligibility has been verified through passport documentation and adherence to all relevant medical guidelines set forth by the PBU. A segment of the statement read:
"Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination. All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit. As with previous Olympic boxing competitions, the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passports."