Bulgarian boxer Svetlana Staneva made a powerful statement with an “XX” chromosome symbol after losing to Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting, who had earlier failed a gender examination. Staneva’s gesture emerged after her defeat to Lin in a unanimous 5-0 decision. The pair have been the subject of controversy since Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif were disqualified from the 2023 International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships following a gender test that reportedly identified male chromosomes.
IBA President, Umar Kremlev, raised the case of athletes attempting to trick their colleagues into thinking they were women. The results of DNA tests, Kremlev claimed, showed these athletes had XY chromosomes, leading to their exclusion from the competition. Both Lin and Khelif’s recent victories, ensuring they will receive medals at the 2024 Paris Games, have reignited debates about the legitimacy of their participation in female boxing.
World Boxing Organization’s European Vice President, István Kovács, asserted that Khelif is biologically male and that his organization had communicated this to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Kovács stated that the problem was not testosterone levels, which can be controlled, but the identifiable biological sex of the boxer.
Staneva’s coach, Borislav Georgiev, echoed the criticism, suggesting that if Lin was found to possess male chromosomes, she should not be competing in the women’s category.