Latest news with #genderTesting
New York Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
President Trump floats military use at L.A. Olympics, says there will be gender testing
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday to establish a task force that will handle security around the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, saying that he might utilize the military while also asserting there would be 'some form' of gender testing for athletes competing in women's sports. Advertisement Flanked by members of his administration, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and LA28 — the organizing committee for the 2028 Games — Trump said the task force was meant to '(mobilize) the entire federal government to ensure the Games are safe, seamless and historically successful.' A few minutes into his prepared remarks, Trump changed topics. He turned to Gene Sykes, chair of the USOPC's board of directors, to thank him 'for recently banning men from competing in women's sports.' The USOPC changed its policy on transgender athletes last month to comply with Trump's executive order in February that seeks to bar athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports unless assigned female at birth. 'The United States will not let men steal trophies from women at the 2028 Olympics,' Trump said. USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland had previously said that 'it's not our role' to decide athlete eligibility. In a letter to its stakeholders after the change, though, Hirshland and Sykes said that all national governing bodies 'are required to update their applicable policies in alignment' with Trump's order. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the eligibility of two women's boxers was the subject of controversy. Algeria's Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-Ting were both deemed ineligible a year earlier at the 2023 world championships by the International Boxing Association, which said tests had shown they had advantages over other women. The IBA provided almost no details to back up the claims. The IBA — which is in a years-long dispute with the International Olympic Committee — no longer oversees the Olympic boxing program. The IOC, which formed a task force to govern boxing at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, allowed Khelif and Lin to compete in Paris, and both won gold with ease in their respective weight classes. Advertisement Khelif and Lin were assigned female at birth and have always identified as women. The IOC repeatedly defended their inclusion, asserting both met eligibility requirements. Kirsty Coventry, the former Olympic swimmer and new president of the IOC, made gender eligibility one of the top issues of her campaign. She has called for a task force of her own on the matter. 'The overarching principle must be to protect the female category,' she said. Less than three years out from the L.A. Games, it's unclear what will come of Coventry's task force or how Trump's executive order and testing pledge will be enforced. But with the administration, the USOPC and the IOC all in line, it's likely to have an impact on the 2028 Olympics. 'There will be a very, very strong form of testing,' Trump said Tuesday. 'And if the test doesn't come out appropriately, they won't be in the Olympics.' Khelif plans to box at the 2028 Games, which World Boxing — a new governing body, formed in 2023 — will sanction. Khelif told British broadcaster ITV in March that she is not deterred by Trump's executive order. 'This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me,' Khelif said. 'That is my response.' Some of the organizing bodies that oversee the various Olympic sports have already moved toward testing procedures. World Athletics, which guides international track and field, has said it will begin implementing a cheek-swabbing test to look for a gene that is an indicator of male-typical sex development. For Trump's security task force, which he plans to oversee as chairman, he said the executive order would give several federal departments and agencies 'every tool at their disposal to ensure a fantastic, safe and beautiful event.' The so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill' that recently passed through Congress and was signed into law last month allocated $1 billion for 2028 Olympic security funding. Advertisement LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman praised the Trump administration's support and said the bill would provide local and state agencies with funding 'to make sure that our Games are safe and secure and ultimately the best place to experience and be an Olympic fan.' How those local agencies will work with the Republican administration is another question. Trump has repeatedly clashed with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom, both Democrats. In response to protests about his immigration policies, Trump in June deployed thousands of National Guard and Marine troops to Los Angeles. Asked Tuesday about safety around the Games, Trump suggested he would consider using the military in L.A. again for the Olympics if he felt it was needed. 'We'll do anything necessary to keep the Olympics safe, including using our National Guard or military,' Trump said. 'No, I will use the National Guard or military — this is going to be so safe — if I have to.' The 2028 Olympics are scheduled from July 14-30, 2028, throughout the greater Los Angeles area. (Photo of President Trump with the executive order: Win McNamee / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Malay Mail
31-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
World Boxing mandates gender tests for all fighters, targets Olympic champion Khelif
PARIS, May 31 — World Boxing announced yesterday it will introduce mandatory gender testing to determine the eligibility of male and female athletes wanting to take part in its competitions. The international federation said it was introducing the policy after the furore surrounding boxers including women's welterweight gold medallist Imane Khelif of Algeria at the Paris Olympics last year. World Boxing will organise the boxing competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after being granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee. World Boxing said it had informed the Algerian Boxing Federation that Khelif would have to undergo the test if she wanted to compete at the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands on June 5-10. 'World Boxing has written to the Algerian Boxing Federation to inform it that Imane Khelif will not be allowed to participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup or any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes sex testing,' it said in a statement. Under the new policy, all athletes over 18 that want to participate in a World Boxing owned or sanctioned competition will need to undergo a PCR, or polymerase chain reaction genetic test, to determine what sex they were at birth and their eligibility to compete. The PCR test is a laboratory technique used to detect specific genetic material, in this case the SRY gene, that reveals the presence of the Y chromosome, which is an indicator of biological sex. The test can be conducted by a nasal or mouth swab, or by taking a sample of saliva or blood. National federations will be responsible for testing and will be required to confirm the sex of their athletes when entering them into World Boxing competitions by producing certification of their chromosomal sex, as determined by a PCR test. Khelif said in March: 'For me, I see myself as a girl, just like any other girl. I was born a girl, raised as a girl, and have lived my entire life as one.' The 26-year-old is targeting a second gold medal at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles after her triumph in Paris. Her success, along with that of Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, sparked a raging gender eligibility debate, with high-profile figures such as US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk weighing in. Khelif and Lin were disqualified from the International Boxing Association's 2023 world championships after the organisation, the long-standing governing body of amateur boxing, said they had failed gender eligibility tests. The IOC has severed links with the IBA over financial, governance and ethical concerns. The IBA is led by the Kremlin-linked Russian Umar Kremlev. Last month the IOC provisionally recognised World Boxing as the body to oversee the sport at future Games. — AFP
News.com.au
30-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Olympic champ Imane Khelif banned on the spot amid gender test furore
World Boxing has announced it will introduce mandatory gender testing to determine the eligibility of male and female athletes wanting to take part in its competitions. The international federation says it is introducing the policy after the furore surrounding women's welterweight gold medallist Imane Khelif of Algeria at the Paris Olympics last year. World Boxing will organise the boxing competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after being granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee. World Boxing said it had informed the Algerian Boxing Federation that Khelif would have to undergo the test if she wanted to compete at the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands on June 5-10. 'In light of plans to introduce this policy and the particular circumstances surrounding some boxers that competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, World Boxing has written to the Algerian Boxing Federation to inform it that Imane Khelif will not be allowed to participate in the female category at the Eindhoven Box Cup or any World Boxing event until Imane Khelif undergoes sex testing,' World Boxing wrote in a press release. Under the new policy, all athletes over 18 that want to participate in a World Boxing owned or sanctioned competition will need to undergo a PCR, or polymerase chain reaction genetic test, to determine what sex they were at birth and their eligibility to compete. The PCR test is a laboratory technique used to detect specific genetic material, in this case the SRY gene, that reveals the presence of the Y chromosome, which is an indicator of biological sex. The test can be conducted by a nasal or mouth swab, or by taking a sample of saliva or blood. National federations will be responsible for testing and will be required to confirm the sex of their athletes when entering them into World Boxing competitions by producing certification of their chromosomal sex, as determined by a PCR test. Khelif said in March: 'As we say in Algeria, those who have nothing to hide should have no fear. 'The truth became clear at the Paris Olympics — the injustice was exposed and later, the truth was acknowledged by the Olympic Committee in Paris.' Khelif then continued: 'For me, I see myself as a girl, just like any other girl. I was born a girl, raised as a girl, and have lived my entire life as one. 'I have competed in many tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics and other major competitions, as well as four World Championships. 'All of these took place before I started winning and earning titles. 'But once I began achieving success, the campaigns against me started.' The 26-year-old is targeting a second gold medal at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles after her triumph in Paris. Her success, along with that of Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting, sparked a raging gender eligibility debate, with high-profile figures such as US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk weighing in. Khelif and Lin were disqualified from the International Boxing Association's 2023 world championships after the organisation, the long-standing governing body of amateur boxing, said they had failed gender eligibility tests. The IOC has severed links with the IBA over financial, governance and ethical concerns. The IBA is led by the Kremlin-linked Russian Umar Kremlev. Last month the IOC provisionally recognised World Boxing as the body to oversee the sport at future Games. Khelif won the gold medal in Paris amid a backdrop of criticism from certain pundits. Her first round win over Angela Carini saw the Italian give up after just 46 seconds in the ring. Carini left the ring in tears, and later claimed: 'After the second one (punch landed) I couldn't breathe anymore. 'I went to my coach and said 'enough' because it takes maturity and courage to stop. I didn't feel like fighting anymore.' The Eindoven Cup have been promoting Khelif's participation in their upcoming event, with a poster reading: 'Proud that Imane Khelif is there again to defend her title.' World Boxing's decision will scupper Khelif's entry into the event. — with The Sun, AFP
