JK Rowling has pleaded with Olympics rule-makers to "end this insanity" after it was revealed the International Olympic Committee [IOC] was allowing two boxers who've previously failed gender eligibility test to take part.
The two boxers from Algeria and Chinese Taipei had both been disqualified from the world championships last year after being previously tested.
Algeria's Imane Khelif will take to the ring this week to face Italy's Angela Carini in the 66kg category while Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu‑ting fights an opponent in the 57kg category on Friday.
Both competitors were banned from world championships last year under the authority of the International Boxing Association [IBA].
Its president claimed the pair were disqualified as DNA tests showed "they had XY chromosomes" and the ban was to protect the "fairness and integrity" of the world championships, according to the Guardian.
However, the IBA isn't in charge of implementing the laws at the Paris 2024 games with that responsibility now lying with the IOC's Paris 2024 Boxing Unit [PBU].
Algeria's Imane Khelif will compete in Paris 2024 despite being previously disqualified from boxing world championships
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The unit has decided Khelif and Lin are eligible to compete despite the IBA's previous ruling.
The move has proved controversial with several critics slamming the PBU's call - including Harry Potter author and vocal women's rights campaigner JK Rowling.
The author took to X to share her thoughts on the PBU's decision, fuming: "What will it take to end this insanity?
"A female boxer left with life-altering injuries? A female boxer killed?" she questioned.
Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu‑ting (pictured in 2018) will represent her country in Paris
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Rowling isn't the only high-profile public figure to openly disagree either, with former world champion Barry McGuigan also typing on the social media site: “It’s shocking that they were actually allowed to get this far, what is going on?”
The IOC defended its decision in a statement, however, saying it used the regulations from previous games to influence its law-making and citing that both athletes have fulfilled eligibility requirements and possess female passports.
It said: "The PBU used the Tokyo 2020 boxing rules (enforced at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the related qualifying tournaments) as a baseline to develop its regulations.
"Those rules descended from the Rio 2016 rules. The PBU endeavoured to restrict amendments to minimise the impact on athletes’ preparation and guarantee consistency between Olympic Games."
Algeria's Khelif has reportedly addressed the furore ahead of the games, claiming backlash is part of a "conspiracy" to hinder her chances.
“People have conspired against Algeria so that its flag doesn’t get raised and it doesn’t win the gold medal,” the 25-year-old said to Agence France-Presse, according to the Guardian.
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What will it take to end this insanity? A female boxer left with life-altering injuries? A female boxer killed? https://t.co/2OGWUQYtU5
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 30, 2024
The Algerian boxer also hasn't let the criticism stop her from sharing updates from inside camp as she prepares for her Paris 2024 bout.
Khelif's coach described the boxer as "focused, fierce, and ready" in one of his latest updates from France.
