Two boxers face one another in the Olympic ring. The boxer dressed in red begins striking the boxer in blue, breaking her chinstrap, smashing her nose, and then bloodying her chin. After 46 seconds the blue boxer ends the fight, dropping to her knees in tears.

Last year, the boxer in red, Algerian Imane Khelif, was banned by the International Boxing Association (IBA). A DNADeoxyribonucleic acid is the material in an organism that carries genetic information. test showed she had XY chromosomesA threadlike structure found in the nucleus of most living cells, carry genetic information in the form of genes., those associated with being a man, as opposed to the XX chromosomes generally found in women.¹

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) follows different rules. From its point of view, Khelif was born female, raised as a girl, and has boxed in the women's category for her entire career.

This is not a transgenderSomeone whose gender identity (what they feel inside) does not match the gender identity they were assigned at birth (based on their biology). issue. Khelif appears to have a difference in sex development (DSD) condition, one of a group of rare conditions which, according to Britain's NHSThe National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948., means a person's sex development is different to most other people's.

But observers have speculated that her testosteroneThe hormone that causes people to develop male sexual characteristics. Women also produce some testosterone. levels are comparable to those of a man and, on average, male upper bodies have a lot more muscle than those of a female and much greater strength.²

Many people think this is unfair. Gold-winning boxer Nicola Adams tweeted that letting Khelif fight was "dangerous".³

But Khelif's supporters argue that sport should be an inclusive place. They also point out that "female athletes of colour have historically faced disproportionate scrutiny and discrimination".⁴

Khelif grew up in a traditional community where women rarely played sports. Another boxer, Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, is also competing in the women's category despite being banned for the same reason. She started training to protect her mother from domestic violence.⁵

On Friday evening Khelif will compete for the welterweightA weight category in boxing between lightweight and middleweight. gold. Whether or not she enjoys an unfair genetic advantage, she has done nothing to deserve the attacks on social media. Instead, the fault lies with IOC for creating this confusing situation.

Is this a case of cheating?

Yes: Female boxers with male genetics or hormones have an overwhelming physical advantage. They should not be allowed to compete against other women given the harm they could cause.

No: Khelif and Yu-ting have done nothing wrong according to the Olympic rules. The criticism they have received shows the prejudice that still exists against female athletes of colour.

Or... Neither athletes deserves the criticism they have received online. Instead, the IOC is responsible for creating a confusing situation that many athletes considered unfair.

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