Olympics gender row explodes as more than 42,000 people sign petition urging chiefs to ‘STOP forcing women to compete against men’ – after eligibility row involving Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting

The petition was hand-delivered to the IOC’s offices in Lausanne, Switzerland

It was launched by a US-based conservative, Christian legal advocacy group

More than 42,000 have signed a petition to the International Olympic Committee – urging them to ‘stop forcing women to compete against men’ at future Games.

The document, hand-delivered to IOC headquarters in Switzerland, accuses the body of adopting policies that allow males who identify as female to compete in women’s sports’.

It comes after two boxers, who had been disqualified from previous international tournaments for failing gender eligibility tests, won gold in Paris.

Amid a global storm, Imane Khelif, of Algeria, and Lin Yu-ting, of Taiwan, were both supported by President Thomas Bach, with Olympic eligibility criteria based simply on the sex listed in a participant’s passport rather than through any testing system.

The petition has been launched by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a US-based conservative, Christian legal advocacy group.

It reads: ‘Men and women are different. Their physical differences give men athletic advantages in sports. Scientific research continues to acknowledge this reality.

More than 42,000 have signed a petition to the International Olympic Committee urging them to ‘stop forcing women to compete against men’ at future Games

It comes after the gender eligibility row involving Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting in the summer

It comes after the gender eligibility row involving Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting in the summer

‘However, governments and organizational bodies like the IOC have adopted policies that allow males who identify as female to compete in women’s sports. These policies prioritize feelings over fairness—ideology over truth.

‘As an organization governing athletics, the IOC must be held accountable for the many harms caused by allowing men to compete in women’s sports at the highest stage in the world, from lost medals and victories to privacy and safety violations.

‘Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is standing with women and girls across the United States to protect women’s sports, private spaces, and basic fairness.

Olympic boxers Imane Khelif, Lin Yu-Ting at center of gender controversy

‘Therefore, I am raising my voice and asking the IOC to protect women’s athletic opportunities by ensuring that women are not forced to compete against men in future Olympics.

‘The IOC’s voice matters. Others look to your leadership. Not only are the women competing in this year’s Olympics impacted—but every little girl dreaming of winning the gold is as well.’

Olympian swimmer and commentator Sharron Davies was among the many to criticise the IOC during the Paris furore.

Davies, who lost out on gold thanks to an East German testosterone user, said: ‘Let’s hope common sense and prioritising fairness and safety for female athletes will return soon. The wilful negligence of the boxing during the Paris 2024 Olympics was a particular low point and a total disgrace.’