Sebastian Coe says defending feminine sport is a “non-negotiable” after talking for the primary time since revealing he’s set to run for election because the president of the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC).
Two-time Olympic champion Coe was the chair of London 2012 and is at present president of World Athletics, a place during which he has negotiated tough points resembling doping, banning Russia and his stance on the safety of feminine athletes and the feminine class.
Talking to Sky Sports activities Information, Coe mentioned he’s extra ready than any job earlier than to turn into president of the IOC – a place held by Thomas Bach for the final 10 years.
The opposite six candidates are Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, France’s David Lappartient, Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry, Japan’s Morinari Watanabe, Sweden’s Johan Eliasch and Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan.
Ought to Coe win the election in March subsequent yr, he would face quite a few challenges. As president of World Athletics, the most important Olympic sport, he has very publicly tackled quite a few controversial points – none extra topical than the safety of the feminine class.
World Athletics has a place the place transgender athletes are barred from competing within the feminine class at worldwide occasions. Additionally they have a transparent eligibility coverage for athletes with DSD (variations of intercourse growth).
On the Paris 2024 Olympics, away from the game, a row over the eligibility of two feminine feminine boxers dominated. Algerian Imane Khelif and China’s Lin Yu-Ting have been alleged to have failed gender assessments in 2023, though no proof was or has been offered to again up that allegation.
Some incorrect headlines prompt the boxers have been transgender athletes – although each have been born feminine and are classed as feminine of their passports. Nevertheless, the row proved controversial and has introduced the controversy round eligibility and feminine classification into the highlight.
“The protection of the female category is entirely non-negotiable,” mentioned Coe.
“If you do not protect the female category in sport, you will lose women’s sport. That is not something I’m prepared to do.”
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Sky Sports activities’ Geraint Hughes reported on Imane Khelif’s gold medal victory because the Algerian defeated China’s Yang Liu within the Olympic remaining in August
Khelif gained gold within the ladies’s welterweight competitors in Paris amid enormous controversy after the Worldwide Boxing Affiliation (IBA) mentioned the Algerian had been disqualified from final yr’s World Championships for failing gender eligibility standards.
The 25-year-old has filed a authorized grievance with the French authorities over the net abuse and harassment she was subjected to through the Video games, and the IOC mentioned in early November that she was now additionally taking motion over new experiences which emerged in France, allegedly detailing her leaked medical information.
It additionally mentioned it was “saddened” by the abuse Khelif had acquired since her look in Paris.
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Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif says she was “hurt” by the harassment she acquired on social media amid row over her eligibility as she spoke for the primary time since submitting her lawsuit
Khelif has been competing in ladies’s boxing for a number of years, together with on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and IBA-sanctioned occasions.
The IBA was stripped of recognition by the IOC final yr over governance failures. That meant it was the IOC which ran – and set the entry standards for – the Olympic boxing match in Paris.
“In a way, how I feel is irrelevant. If you press me on that, I was deeply uncomfortable by that,” mentioned Coe on the matter.
“I have done six years on the British Boxing Board of Control, I have daughters.
“The extra basic remark I made is it’s completely important that as an organisation, you could have clear-cut insurance policies.
“It is for the international federations to determine what they think is in the best interest of their sport, but I do think the IOC has a fabulous opportunity to be in pole position when it comes to thought leadership in sport and creating a landscape. Having clear-cut policies is absolutely essential.”
