Sebastian Coe, talking for the primary time since revealing he would run for Worldwide Olympic Committee president, mentioned defending ladies in sport was “non-negotiable”.
Coe, a two-time Olympic champion who served as president of the London 2012 Video games, at present serves as president of World Athletics, a place during which he’s answerable for negotiating thorny points resembling doping, banning Russian competitions and defending feminine athletes and classes.
speaking sky sports activities information, Coe mentioned he was higher ready than anybody earlier than to develop into IOC president – a place held by Thomas Bach for the previous decade.
The opposite six candidates are Juan Antonio Samaranch of Spain, David Lappartien of France, Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, Morinari Watanabe of Japan, and John Eliash of Sweden. and Prince Faisal Hussein of Jordan.
Coe will face many challenges if he wins election subsequent March. As president of World Athletics, the biggest Olympic sport, he has very publicly addressed many controversial points – none extra so than the safety of the feminine class.
World Athletics’ place is to ban transgender athletes from competing within the ladies’s class of worldwide occasions. Additionally they have clear eligibility insurance policies for athletes with DSD (Intercourse Variations in Improvement).
Away from sport, the qualification arguments for 2 feminine boxers have dominated the 2024 Paris Olympics. Algerian Imane Khelif and Taiwanese Lin Yu-Ting have been accused of failing a gender take a look at in 2023, though no proof was or has been supplied to assist the accusation.
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Sky Sports activities Information reporter Geraint Hughes explains why Algerian boxer Iman Khalif is taking authorized motion over French media studies
Some incorrect headlines recommended the 2 boxers have been transgender athletes – although each have been born feminine and have been categorised as feminine on their passports. Nevertheless, the row sparked controversy and introduced into the highlight debates over eligibility and the classification of ladies.
“Safety for ladies is totally non-negotiable,” Coe mentioned.
“For those who do not defend the class of ladies in sports activities, you are going to lose ladies’s sports activities. That is not one thing I am ready to do.”
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Sky Sports activities’ Geraint Hughes studies on Algeria’s Iman Khalif beating China’s Liu Yang to win gold in August’s Olympic closing
Khalif received gold within the ladies’s welterweight contest in Paris, sparking controversy after the Worldwide Boxing Affiliation (IBA) mentioned the Algerian was disqualified from final yr’s world championships as a result of she didn’t meet gender eligibility standards.
The 25-year-old has lodged a authorized grievance with French authorities over the net abuse and harassment she suffered through the Olympics, and the IOC mentioned in early November that she was additionally now taking motion in response to new studies rising in France. Her leaked medical information have been detailed.
It additionally mentioned it was “saddened” by the ill-treatment Khalif had acquired since his look in Paris.
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Olympic boxing champion Iman Khalif says she feels “harm” on the harassment she has acquired on social media amid a dispute over her eligibility, talking for the primary time since submitting the lawsuit
Khalif has competed in ladies’s boxing for a number of years, together with competing on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and IBA-sanctioned occasions.
Final yr, the IBA was stripped of its accreditation by the Worldwide Olympic Committee on account of governance failures. Which means the Worldwide Olympic Committee is answerable for organizing the Paris Olympic Boxing Championships and setting the requirements for participation.
“In a method, it does not matter how I really feel. For those who pressed me on this, I’d really feel very uncomfortable,” Coe mentioned of the incident.
“I labored for the British Boxing Board of Management for six years and I’ve a daughter.
“The extra basic commentary I made is that as a company it’s completely important to have clear insurance policies.
“It is as much as worldwide federations to find out what they assume is in one of the best pursuits of their sport, however I do assume the IOC has an amazing alternative to be on the forefront by way of thought management and making a panorama for sport. standing.
