Latest news with #NicolaAdams
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Imane Khelif scandal brings everlasting shame on the IOC
'I can sleep well tonight,' said Nicola Adams, the first British woman to win an Olympic boxing title, a few hours after Imane Khelif's test results were leaked into the public domain. She deserved to feel at peace. After all, she had been one of the highest-profile critics of the Algerian's involvement at the Paris Olympics last summer, writing: 'People not born as biological women should not be able to compete in women's sport.' For this she was pelted like some medieval miscreant in the stocks, accused by many of her former supporters of ignorance and misinformation. Except now, with the release of chromosome analysis from an Indian laboratory revealing that Khelif has 'male karyotype', it turns out Adams was right all along. The Khelif scandal should be ranked among the worst in Olympic history, a saga where the sport's most powerful administrators became so seduced by gender ideology, so in thrall to the lie that womanhood was reducible to some frivolous passport detail, that they were prepared to put the very lives of female boxers in peril. A woman could, as a direct consequence of a profoundly flawed official policy, have died in that Paris ring. That is the stark truth. The International Olympic Committee knew about Khelif. It had been told in 2023 about the test results in New Delhi indicating that Khelif was biologically male, with spokesman Mark Adams publicly admitting as much. But it did nothing, disdaining the tests – with no evidence – as 'ad hoc' and 'not legitimate'. Its spin was that it was all some Russian stitch-up. This version of events, after all, suited president Thomas Bach's personal squabbles with Umar Kremlev, Russian chief of the International Boxing Association. And it was swallowed by far too many credulous observers in Paris. When the IBA called a press conference, in the wake of Khelif's 46-second battering of Angela Carini, it was blocked by legal threats from revealing the boxer's test findings as it intended. As such, the occasion dissolved into a slanging match: at one point, apropos of nothing, a reporter demanded to know the salary of Chris Roberts, the IBA chief executive. It felt, then as now, like a huge exercise in misdirection. Yes, the IBA had questions to answer over its ethics and finances. But the core element of its case – that women's sport should only be for those with XX chromosomes, that male advantage was immutable – was sound. And now we see its argument that it disqualified Khelif from the 2023 World Championships for being XY – a verdict, crucially, against which the athlete did not appeal – substantiated in writing, with a report carrying the letterhead of Dr Lal Path Labs in New Delhi summarising the genetic testing in two telling words: 'abnormal' and 'male'. I spent much of Monday pursuing the IOC, asking firstly for a response to the document and secondly for a sign of whether it would be apologising to the women denied Olympic medals. Eventually, on Tuesday morning, the following word salad arrived from Lausanne: 'The IOC has always made it clear that eligibility criteria are the responsibility of the respective international federation. The factors that matter to performance are unique to each sport, discipline and/or event. We await the full details on how sex testing will be implemented in a safe, fair and legally enforceable way.' This statement, somehow managing to avoid either question posed, is risible in myriad ways. For a start, the attempt to pass the buck to the federations is directly contradicted by the IOC's actions at the Paris Games. It took over running Olympic boxing from the IBA, establishing the so-called 'Paris Boxing Unit' and applying its own fatuous logic that Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, who had also failed tests, could compete because of the 'F' in their passports. As for its comment about rules being different depending on the sport? Clearly, it still believes men can be women in certain circumstances. In boxing, though, there was only one by which it needed to abide: to ensure women would not be smashed in the head by biological males. And it failed to uphold even that most basic duty of care. It is a monumental dereliction, to which the only natural response is anger. The IOC has caused havoc with its ridiculous 2021 framework on 'fairness, inclusion and non-discrimination', stating that 'athletes should be allowed to compete in the category that best aligns with the self-determined gender identity'. In 2024, it decided to test this fallacy in boxing, the most lethal Olympic sport. Except boxers do not compete with their feelings, but with their fists. In its desperation to advertise supposedly progressive credentials, it placed women in mortal danger. Could there be a greater betrayal? Those who cheered this on in Paris, who painted anybody doubting Khelif's claims to be a woman as a bigot, should take some time to reflect. And that includes many journalists. On Sky Sports News on Friday, an Olympics reporter, reacting to news that World Boxing would compel Khelif to undergo further sex testing to compete in the female category again, said flatly: 'There were no tests. There were no test results.' And yet there were. We knew of their existence in Paris nine months ago, and now we have seen them with our own eyes. In a curious way, there is some comfort in this. When people accuse anybody disagreeing with them on this subject of 'hate', it is a sure sign that they have lost the plot. And those insisting that Khelif's mental health matters more than the physical well-being of women have emphatically lost any moral argument. Think of it this way: in men's sport, people devote inordinate amounts of time to railing against the tiniest example of unfairness, to decrying the entire VAR system if Erling Haaland's toe happens to be offside. How can the same judges make their peace with women being denied the right to safety, the most basic fairness of all? 'Non è giusto', Carini kept saying to her corner in Paris after the Khelif bout, weeping that she had never been punched so hard in her life. 'It's not fair.' Let that plaintive cry stand as a monument to the IOC's everlasting shame. 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BBC News
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Former boxing world champion Nina Hughes retires from the ring
Former world champion Nina Hughes has announced her retirement from 42-year-old bantamweight from Billericay, Essex, said she realised her desire to fight had gone during her winning bout with Nicholine Achieng on was crowned world champion in 2022 in only her fifth professional bout, having first taken up the sport aged 25."I had a good career, it happened really quickly and I've enjoyed every part of it," Hughes told BBC Essex. Despite winning against Achieng, Hughes said her "bad performance" confirmed she was ready to hang up her gloves."Halfway through the fight the desire had gone," she said. "I started thinking, 'This is going to be my last one.'"It was a shock to me because the plan was to get this one out the way and get another big fight, but obviously things didn't go as planned." Hughes was touted to represent Team GB at London 2012 - the first Olympics in which women's boxing was included - but missed out to Nicola quit the sport and had two children, only plotting her return during the 2020 Covid-19 first professional fight was in December 2021, before taking three bouts in six months through 2022. 'Short and sweet' Hughes said retirement had not "sunk in yet" but "deep down I know it's the right decision".She added: "I always said I wouldn't be one of these boxers that carried on for too long, so the time's right."I've gone out on my terms and when I thought the time was right, so I think it's the right decision."Hughes said it was supported by her coach after it became harder for her to secure fights."The pro career was short, it was sweet, it was quick and it was good," she added. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Mystery as boxing Frank Bruno still hasn't received top award two MONTHS after ceremony he missed due to serious illness
FRANK Bruno has yet to receive a top boxing award — two months on from the ceremony. He could not collect his lifetime achievement gong as he was seriously ill. 2 Pal Ricky Hatton read out his acceptance speech at the British Boxing Awards on March 28. But former heavyweight champ Bruno, 63, has yet to receive the gong. He told The Sun: 'I was delighted I had won. 'I did an acceptance speech which Ricky Hatton read out for me and as yet I have still not received the award. 'I am bemused not to have received the actual award which I want to show off to the world. 'My office asked a few times but had no joy.' But he penned a speech which Hatton, who co-hosted the awards with former fighter Nicola Adams, delivered on his behalf at the Langham Hotel in London. It said: 'I am sorry I cannot be with you tonight. Trust me - I would far rather be with you than in Hospital having daily tests. "Thank you to the organisers of this event and all the people that voted for me to get this prestigious award.' Bruno was taken ill on a long-haul flight and spent weeks in hospitals in Qatar and London. Exclusive interview with British boxing legend Frank Bruno after his health scare Agent Dave Davies said: 'I have never known somebody be announced as a winner then never receive the actual award.' BBA organisers were contacted for a comment. 2
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Newly single Nicola Adams, 42, puts her Leeds 'family home' up for sale for £950k after splitting from OnlyFans model girlfriend Ella Baig, 27
Olympic boxing hero, Nicola Adams, 42, has put her Leeds home on the market two months after splitting from Ella Baig, 27. Last month, Nicola confirmed that she and Ella had parted ways after Ella's career as an OnlyFans model, which included posing nude snaps and engaging in explicit chat, put a strain on their relationship. Now, the Strictly star is making a fresh start by listing one of her properties - a four-bedroom, two-bathroom property in Leeds - for £950,000. Nicola also owns a home in south London where she resided with Ella and their two-year-old son Taylor. Her Leeds property, which has been described as a 'fantastic family home', extends to almost 2,300 sq. ft, with potential for extension, 'providing ample space for growing families.' There is also plenty of outdoor space, with luscious garden space comprising almost 1/3 of an acre - and a garden room to view the greenery when the weather takes a turn. Inside, the property boasts an open plan living and dining kitchen area, an en-suite bedroom and a home gym. Nicola's decision to sell comes after she broke her silence on her split from Ella. The boxer and the model ended their romance in March despite attempting to resolve any potential differences via couples' therapy. Nicola explained: 'I have always been incredibly supportive of Ella's career and the choices she has made, including her work on OnlyFans.' She added: 'However, as much as I respect what she does, I can't deny that it has had an impact on our relationship.' Nicola admitted there have been challenging times as they navigate the break up, especially when co-parenting their son. The couple began dating in 2018 after meeting each other on a night out - and they subsequently opted to use fertility treatments in order to have their first and only child with the egg fertilised by a sperm donor who resembled Ella. Ella carried the baby and gave birth a month early via caesarean section - with their son Taylor being born in July 2022. Confessing they have both been to therapy she added: 'Right now, we're navigating this as openly and honestly as possible, with the priority being our little boy.' Nicola also explained the split has been a gradual process and they tried months of therapy before calling it quits. She explained that after the therapy sessions, both separately and together, they tried to heal their trauma but then decided it would be easier to split. Yet the star made it clear that future dating isn't on her mind right now and she isn't looking for a rebound but would rather just focus on her work and being a mum. Speaking at the time of their split a spokesman for Nicola said: 'Nicola and Ella have shared an incredible journey together, full of love, growth, and resilience. 'After much thoughtful reflection and important therapy work, they have made the difficult decision to separate. 'Their priority remains their son, Taylor, and they are committed to co-parenting with love and respect.' According to a report from The Sun, a source close to Nicola and Ella said: 'They really tried to make it work, especially for the sake of their son, and even went to couples' therapy, but came to the conclusion that they were better off separating. 'They still have a lot of love for each other, and great memories, but are focused on being brilliant co-parents.' Nicola and Ella began dating in 2018. They opted to use fertility treatments in order to have son Taylor with the egg fertilised by a sperm donor who resembled Ella (pictured 2022) Nicola shot to fame in 2012 after winning gold at her home Olympics, becoming the first female boxer to ever win a medal at the Games, before going on to defend her title at Rio 2016. After winning the WBO flyweight title in 2019, she retired later that year but returned to the public eye with an appearance in the 18th series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2020. Featuring as part of the programme's first same-sex couple alongside professional Katya Jones - the pair were forced to withdraw from the show in its fourth week after Jones tested positive for COVID-19. The following year, Nicola appeared on screens alongside Ella, with the duo featuring on Celebrity Gogglebox.
