WBC champion who sparred Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting discusses Olympic controversy: "These are not naturally born men"
The public narrative surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's participation in the Paris Olympics 2024 has shifted from initial backlash to empathetic support. Most recently, Australian boxer Skye Nicolson came out in defense of Khelif with first-hand experience, having sparred with her in the past.
In a video posted on her Instagram story, Nicolson said that she has fought and sparred with Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting – the boxers engulfed in controversy in the ongoing Olympics. The inclusion of the fighters in the international multi-sport event became a hotbed of debate based on reports that they were disqualified from the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women's World Championships in 2023 after their DNA tests allegedly contained male XY chromosomes.
It's important to note that the assumptions are based on a test by the IBA while the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has categorically refuted the claims.
However, Nicolson clarified her stance on the matter, asserting that both Khelif and Yu-Ting were born female. She also lashed out at netizens for leaping to snap judgments and defaming the boxers.
"I just want to clarify a couple of things... I've actually fought and sparred both of the girls. They were born female. They were born with an XY chromosome, which is the male chromosome, but they were born with female bodies. They have the physical attributes of a female. They have grown up as girls, as females, as women. They have competed as women the whole time."
Nicolson added:
"These are not naturally born men who have decided to call themselves women or identify as women to fight women in the Olympics... It wasn't a testosterone test, it wasn't that they failed anything like that. It wasn't a physical test, they do not have the physical attributes of a male. And while it is a bit of a grey area, I think the abuse and the power of the media and people jumping on the bandwagon without knowing all the details is honestly horrible."
Check out Skye Nicolson's comments below:
Skye Nicolson calls Angela Carini's withdrawal from Imane Khelif contest a "publicity stunt"
Imane Khelif squared off with Angela Carini in the second round of the women's 66 kg event at the ongoing Paris Olympics. However, 46 seconds into the clash, the Italian boxer withdrew after receiving two powerful blows, citing an unfair advantage on Khelif's part.
The IOC condemned the abuse directed at the Algerian boxer following the contest and even Carini apologized to her via the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Skye Nicolson labeled the incident a "publicity stunt." Speaking in the aforementioned video posted on her Instagram story, she said:
“I feel like the thing that happened with the Italian girl was a publicity stunt more than anything. I just think people really need to, like, look at the facts and stop jumping on the bandwagon. Be a lion, not a sheep.”