Opinion: Hong Kong non-binary bodybuilder Siufung Law on the Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting controversies, and how transphobia affects sports

The history of sex testing in sports competitions has been marked by sexism and racism—and showed more intention of controlling women’s bodies than assuring fairness in sports. 

Throughout history, successful athletes participating in the “female category” have been disproportionally targeted by restrictive policies, while their male counterparts have faced little to no restriction. An example in recent times is the backlash Caster Semenya faced for naturally having higher levels of testosterone, while Michael Phelps was praised for producing only half the amount of lactic acid that an average human does.

Another case in point is Filipino boxer Hergie Tao-Wag Bacyadan, a transgender man who competed in the female category at the Paris Olympics. He lost early in the round of 16 middleweight matches and faced much less backlash.

This seems to indicate that “successful” athletes who are assigned female at birth run a higher risk of being accused of posing a threat to women’s sports. Let’s not forget that sports federations only investigate these athletes following requests from “the loser’s side”. One might question if, under the circumstances, their view is objective—or rather—coloured by their loss. 

Women have faced humiliating sex testing for as long as the modern Olympics have existed. From the time athletes were forced to strip naked to chromosome testing and the monitoring of testosterone levels, these measures ostensibly claim to guarantee fairness in the game, but in reality, seem to police women’s bodies and put a cap on what women’s sporting capabilities can be.

In sex-testing academic research, we also see a connection between one’s gender and race. Historically speaking, female athletes’ performances from the global South have been more questioned than female Western athletes. 

As mentioned above, we can see it in Khelif and Lin’s case, but also in the case of Semenya, Serena Williams and others who have faced similar backlash—usually justified by the public for not looking “feminine” enough. If women do not match Western beauty standards, they’re automatically compared to men. 

I’m more familiar with beauty standards in Asia and thus will develop more on Lin’s case. Most Westerners still expect an Asian woman to be petite, feminine and submissive. Seeing Lin Yu-ting and her short hair, chiselled jawline and masculine-presenting traits, winning gold doesn’t sit well with some people. It’s interesting to see how most Taiwanese people never questioned her biological sex despite her appearance.

I think we can all agree that the “question of gender nonconforming people” in sports is a complex one, and deserves healthy discussions. However, having influential people such as Elon Musk and JK Rowling sharing misinformation on social media is particularly damaging, especially as they have millions of followers, which can lead to growing transphobic feelings around the world.

For example, the cyberbullying that Khelif and Lin faced as a result of this misinformation was extremely violent and led to the athletes’ mental health struggles. Khalif took action by filing a cyberbullying lawsuit in which both Musk and Rowling were named.

This has contributed to gender-nonconforming people feeling increasingly insecure around the globe. In 2021, the Chinese University of Hong Kong reported that more than three-quarters of transgender people in Hong Kong have contemplated suicide and over half reported facing discrimination in areas of employment, education and more. In addition, about 62 per cent of respondents reported experiencing various forms of victimisation and over three-quarters have faced rejection in their social lives. 

In this light, it’s important to remember the small victories as well. The Paris Olympics has welcomed the largest number of LGBTQ+ athletes ever, by having 193 openly LGBTQ+ athletes competing. The Olympics are such a visible platform for queer athletes around the world, and it provides a crucial space to show our existence, and to start conversations—even the uncomfortable ones.

For more conversation around this topic, head to Siu Fung Law’s upcoming talk about gender controversies in sports at Nose in the Books, on September 7 from 2:30pm to 4:30pm. 

Link for registering: https://forms.gle/SHCkxbxo6N3YZRBm6

READ MORE

Why the 2024 Paris Olympics was a triumph for representation and diversity

The images of female athletes at Paris 2024 show how far we've come—but also highlight how far we still have to go

5 moments of female empowerment and solidarity at the Paris Olympics