MOSCOW, August 9, Oleg Bogatov. The scandal in women's boxing at the Olympic Games in Paris was caused by the strange policy of the leadership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), I want to support the athletes who do not deserve such an attitude towards themselves and fight with men, said the vice-champion of the world in classical chess Sergey Karjakin.
Earlier, the IOC approved the participation of Iman Khelif (Algeria) and Lin Yuting (Taiwan) in the women's tournament, despite the fact that at the 2023 World Championships (held under the auspices of the International Boxing Association — IBA) they failed a gender test that showed elevated levels of testosterone in their bodies. Italian Angela Carini (weight category up to 66 kg) gave up after 46 seconds in the 1/8 finals of the tournament with Khelif, and then announced her retirement. Khelif subsequently reached the final of the tournament, as did Lin Yuting (weight category up to 57 kg).
«What happened at the Olympics in boxing is abnormal, there is a division into men's and women's tournaments. And all this tolerance of the IOC has led to such scandals. Let's say right away that the Olympic Games are held in general competitions, so that there are no such surprises (with a smile). This is a very strange decision. And in this situation I want to support women, because they certainly do not deserve such an attitude towards themselves. But, frankly speaking, I do not remember the International Olympic Committee ever admitting its mistakes,» Karyakin said.
«Therefore, there is nothing new in the fact that the IOC in this situation is defending its position on allowing them to participate in the tournament. But in general, the IOC has long been following the path of politics. The organization could have taken the line of promoting and developing sports, but instead, the IOC follows, let's say, the latest, not the best trends in Western life. And all this is allowed into sports, although sports should exist on their own. And now we see the result of this policy — men box with women,» the agency's interlocutor added.
The chess player believes that the numerous miscalculations of the IOC and the organizing committee in preparation for the Games could lead to radical changes in the Olympic movement.
«I really hope that after such an organizational failure as the one in Paris, some alternative Olympic Games will be held. Not right now, but in the foreseeable future. And that would be right, because sport should be outside of politics. And besides, we have wonderful associations — such as, for example, the BRICS countries. There are countries in the world that are friendly to us, which could also join and hold similar Olympic Games. In which the truly strongest athletes would win,» Karyakin emphasized.