Men beating up women is now an Olympic sport
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‘Tragic reality’: Olympics’ gender storm erupts over banned athletes
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Sevens loss sees 'tears on the field' | 01:33
Tyson Otto in Paris from News.com.au
July 31st, 2024 10:48 am
The International Olympic Committee has been
forced to defend two boxers in the women’s competition at the Paris Games who failed gender eligibility tests last year.
A storm has erupted in the French capital after historical footage of a one-sided boxing contest prompted concerns about potential physical advantages the two athletes will have in their competitions this year.
Imane Khelif from Algeria is set to fight on Friday in the women’s under 66kg category, while Lin Yu Ting from Taiwan has her first bout in the under 57kg division on Saturday.
Both fighters previously competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but had not recorded failed test results until last year when they were both disqualified at the World Championships.
The IOC has made a blunt statement that the organisation will not step in to remove the fighters from competition.
The issue has become a divisive topic in Paris.
The Matildas’ 6-5 win over Zambia on Tuesday morning (AEST) also made international headlines because of the performance of striker Racheal Kundananji, who scored two goals against the Aussies.
Kundananji was banned from the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2022 after “failing gender eligibility tests” due to her natural testosterone levels being above those allowed by the Confederation of African Football.
The IOC's stance has been met with angry comments by outspoken women’s rights advocacy groups, including former American swimmer Riley Gaines.
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Lucy Zelic and Riley Gaines have spoken out. Picture: Instagram, Scott Barbour and InstagramSource: Supplied
Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer and so-called “clean sport” campaigner, has caused a stir with comments she made responding on Twitter to the viral video — which has more than 4.7 million views — that showed Khelif winning a previous amateur fight in 2022.
Gaines has sparked backlash with her controversial comments, in which she labelled Khelif a “male boxer” and argued the Olympics was “glorifying punching women in the face”.
“Imagine training your WHOLE life, getting good enough to earn a spot on the Olympic team, hoping to win an Olympic medal.... then you’re told you have to fight a man,” she posted on Twitter. “That’s the tragic reality for these women.”
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Imane Khelif (right) shakes hands with an opponent at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Adam Davy/PA ImagesSource: Supplied
The IOC has not been moved by the swirling controversy.
“Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the eligibility criteria,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters.
“They are women in their passports and it’s stated that is the case, and they are female.
“These athletes have competed many times before for many years. They haven’t just suddenly arrived.”
The IOC has previously addressed Kundananji’s inclusion in competition. She has played international football for Zambia since 2018.
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Yu Ting Lin (left) in action at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Buda Mendes/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
However, Aussie football commentator Lucy Zelic hit out at Kundananji’s inclusion on Tuesday, taking to Twitter to “discuss the elephant in the room”.
Zelic, who is commentating on the Olympics for Nine radio, posted: “We are entitled to ask questions. We are entitled to know why the failed gender verification tests conducted in 2022 were completely ignored by FIFA in 2023 and continue to be ignored in 2024.
“That the International Olympics Committee do not have ‘as strict’ rules when it comes to gender testing is also a slight on the credibility of the organisation and the sports being contested.”
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Racheal Kundananji (R) fights for the ball with Australia's midfielder Katrina Gorry. Picture: Valery Hache / AFPSource: AFP
Zelic has been an outspoken critic of transgender athletes being allowed to compete in women’s sport and has argued that it is “alarming” for those concerns to be silenced.
Gender eligibility will continue to be a divisive topic throughout the Games — especially when Khelif and Lin step into the ring.
Khelif and Lin were both disqualified at the World Championships in New Delhi last year after failing to pass eligibility tests.
Khelif was disqualified hours before her gold medal bout over “elevated testosterone levels”, according to her profile on the Paris Games information system.
Lin was stripped of her bronze medal at the championship after undergoing “biochemical” tests that were mandated by the International Boxing Association (IBA) under Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev.
The IBA was effectively expelled from the Olympic movement last year following a bitter dispute between the CIO and Kremlev, meaning the IOC has taken responsibility for organising the boxing at the Paris Games.
Adams said that determining eligibility criteria for women’s sport was “incredibly complex” and should be done by federations.
“Everyone would love to have a single answer, yes or no,” he continued, adding: “The federations need to make the rules to make sure there is fairness but also the ability for everyone to take part that wants to.”
— with AFP
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OLYMPICS
Aussie gold rush? Fox, BMX star defend Olympic crowns as Tillies face must-win — LIVE
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Disappointed US swim team blaming pool | 04:31
Dylan Bolch from Fox Sports
July 31st, 2024 5:15 pm
There’s plenty of potential Aussie success in tonight’s Olympics action, with paddler Jess Fox looking to add more gold to her cabinet, BMX Freestyle rider Logan Martin hoping to defend his crown and the Matilda’s back in action against the United States.
Australian golden girl Jess Fox is set to try and add another medal to her cabinet when she looks to defend her C1 canoe slalom crown.
Fox, who carried the Australian flag at the Opening Ceremony, cruised into the semi-final of the C1 with the second-fastest time in qualifying, despite an error in her second heat run.
Gate seven was where she made a minor error, but she was still only 0.61 seconds behind Czechia’s Gabriela Satkova.
Her father Richard said on Channel 9 that it was “a good run” that “she’ll have enjoyed”.
Fox finally won her first K1 title after medalling in the past three Olympic campaigns.
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'You've got Patty hot or not' | 00:45
Australian BMX Freestyle rider Logan Martin is looking to defend his Tokyo title later tonight after another superb qualifying performance, finishing third.
He posted an average score of 89.39 from his two runs, narrowly qualifying behind Brit Kieran Reilly and American Marcus Christopher.
“I’m definitely stoked, the main goal today was to pull two runs and make it through to tomorrow where it’s only one run counts, so I’m pretty happy with the way I rode,” Martin said.
“This day I probably have more nerves because it’s two runs and two count.
“You don’t really get that safety run, although tomorrow I have to step up my tricks.
“I do enjoy the heat and riding in the heat, I enjoy sweating and all that sort of stuff. It’s very warm but I can manage OK. Just trying to stay in the shade to be honest, drinking lots of water, and stay out of the sun.”
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Matty & the Missile: Full episode, Day 4 | 22:24
The Matildas are looking to keep their Olympic dream alive when they take on global football powerhouse the United States from 3am AEST.
The Matildas have beaten America just once in 33 attempts, with the USA winning four of the seven gold medals since women’s football joined the Olympics in ‘96 and beating Australia in the bronze medal match in Tokyo.
The Tillies were torched by Germany in their opening game 3-0, before coming from the clouds to edge out Zambia 6-5 in their recent clash.
It means the Matildas sit third in their group on three points, behind the USA (6 points), Germany (3, but with better goal difference than Aus), and ahead of Zambia (0).
Tony Gustavsson’s side will be hoping to put in a solid performance and there’s a variety of different scenarios that can play out depending on the result.
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Biles buries demons with unreal routine | 00:55
It’s set to be another bumper day for the Aussies in the pool as well, with plenty of medal hopefuls set to do their thing.
Kyle Chalmers, Mollie O’Callaghan and Zac Stubblety-Cook headline our best medal hopes.
NOTABLE AUSSIE EVENTS SCHEDULE (All times AEST)
18:45 Men’s Triathlon [Medal Event] (Luke William and Matthew Hauser)
21:10 Cycling BMX Freestyle Women’s Park Final [Medal Event] (Natalya Diehm)
21:15 Women’s Hockey AUSTRALIA vs USA
22:00 Women’s Water Polo Netherlands vs AUSTRALIA
22:45 Cycling BMX Freestyle Men’s Park Final [Medal Event] (Logan Martin)
23:30 Canoe Slalom Women’s Canoe Single Semifinal (Jessica Fox)
23:30 Shooting Trap Women’s Final [Medal Event] (Catherine Skinner, Penny Smith TBC)
01:25 Canoe Slalom Women’s Canoe Single Final [Medal Event] (Jessica Fox)
01:30 Women’s Basketball 3x3 AUSTRALIA vs Germany
01:30 Artistic Gymnastics Men’s All-Around Final [Medal Event] (Jesse Moore)
03:00 Women’s Football AUSTRALIA vs United States
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‘Right where he wants to be’: Kyle avoids key Tokyo mistake for all-time 100m battle — LIVE
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