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Fifteen years after Caster Semenya’s controversial experience at a major sporting event, the shadow of public humiliation has unfortunately fallen over two female boxers at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan have faced scrutiny regarding their gender following a contentious assessment by the International Boxing Association (AIBA). Instead of celebrating victories for their countries and their achievements, both athletes have been challenged about their gender after the boxing federation claimed they did not pass sex verification tests last year. However, they have received little information about the tests themselves. This has raised concerns among Olympic officials, who have described the arbitrary tests as “so flawed that it is impossible to engage with them.”

This situation has led to a wave of online hostility, often stemming from prominent figures outside the sports realm. Khelif stated in an interview with SNTV: “This has massive effects. It can ruin people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit, and mind. It can divide people.” Their experiences are reminiscent of Semenya’s, who, upon her debut in elite athletics in 2009, was subjected to sex verification tests and became the target of malicious rumors. Caster Semenya, now a two-time Olympic champion in the 800 meters, has become synonymous with the fight for the rights of women with differences in sex development (DSD).

Semenya has always identified as a woman and was only 18 years old when she faced public humiliation. With an XY chromosomal pattern and elevated testosterone levels, she has effectively been excluded from women’s competition unless her testosterone levels are medically reduced. Her situation has sparked a debate about unfair advantages in sports, but the correlation between testosterone and athletic advantage is not clear-cut.

Like Semenya, Khelif and Lin, as women with DSD, experience public humiliation and insecurity regarding their gender. Khelif, 25, and Lin, 28, must now return home with medals symbolizing their achievements, but also with the burden of misunderstanding and misconceptions. In a previous interview, Semenya urged sports authorities to protect all athletes, regardless of their bodies and identities: “Sport is for all people, and the constitution says no to discrimination. But the moment they allowed women to be disgraced, it confuses us.”

Historically, female athletes of color have faced disproportionate scrutiny and discrimination concerning gender. Semenya’s story gives voice to many female athletes who struggle against prejudgments and unreasonable assessments of their bodies. Christine Mboma, a young runner from Namibia with a DSD condition, won a silver medal at the last Olympics but also faced criticism and skepticism at home. “It is a public humiliation,” said her coach Henk Botha.

Now, as Khelif and Lin strive to reclaim their dignity in the sports world, it is evident that past mistakes must not be repeated. This issue transcends sports; it concerns respect, equal rights, and the recognition of women’s identities at all levels.
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