That the Parliament notes with concern the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to permit Imane Khelif, who is representing Algeria, and Lin Yu-ting, who is representing Taiwan, to compete in the women’s boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics; understands that both had previously been disqualified from the 2023 world boxing championships, with the International Boxing Association expressing concern about their gender and deeming them not eligible to compete in its 2023 competition; acknowledges that Angela Carini, who is representing Italy and, in competing against Khelif in the 66kg category, ended the fight after 46 seconds, reportedly saying that “it isn’t right”, she had “never felt a punch like this”, she was in “extreme pain” and that she had to “preserve [her] life”; further acknowledges comments from the Italian Prime Minister that “it matters to be able to compete on equal grounds and, from [her] point of view, it was not an even contest”, and the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, who said of Angela Carini that “she and other female athletes should not have been exposed to this physical and psychological violence based on their sex”; believes it is paramount that the IOC should balance inclusion against fairness and the safety of female athletes, and considers that it should urgently review the way that it assesses eligibility for participating in women’s events at the Olympics.
Supported by:
Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Pam Gosal, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, John Mason, Edward Mountain, Ash Regan, Michelle Thomson, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Brian Whittle
Submitted by: Karen Adam, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party, Date lodged: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Supported by: Clare Adamson, Maggie Chapman, Joe FitzPatrick, Patrick Harvie, Bill Kidd, Gillian Mackay, Emma Roddick, David Torrance