Presenter Laura Woods Speaks Out On Death Threats Received Over Olympic Boxing Comment
Sports presenter Laura Woods has revealed that she received death threats after commenting on the controversial participation of Olympic boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting in the women’s division at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The two athletes, who won gold in their respective weight categories, have been at the centre of a heated debate over their eligibility to compete as women.
Last year, both boxers were disqualified from the World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after reportedly failing gender eligibility tests. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later cleared them to compete in Paris, questioning the validity of the IBA's tests.
The controversy surrounding Khelif and Lin intensified after Khelif’s first opponent at the Olympics, Italian boxer Angela Carini, claimed she had "never been hit so hard" and bowed out of the match within 46 seconds. Although Carini later apologised and said she respected Khelif's inclusion, the incident fueled public scrutiny and debate.
Woods, who works for TNT Sports and ITV, expressed her support for an article that criticised the IOC's decision to allow Khelif and Lin to participate in the women’s division.
Following her comments, Woods shared that she faced a torrent of abuse online, including threats against her life and that of her unborn child.
“Since I replied to this article, I've had numerous death threats to myself and my unborn child,” she posted on social media. “When there are discrepancies with test results – which could impact the safety of another human being, in an environment that above all else should be fair – questions are quite rightly going to be asked.”
She added that she had also received threats to her home and calls for her employers to sack her.
The IOC defended its decision, with spokesperson Mark Adams stating that both Khelif and Lin met the eligibility criteria, which were based on their passports. Adams noted that Khelif, who had also competed in the Tokyo Olympics, had been participating in women’s competitions for years.
Despite the controversy, Khelif expressed pride in her achievement, saying, “I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman, and I am qualified.”
The situation has sparked widespread debate, with some criticising the IOC’s handling of gender eligibility and others condemning the IBA for what the IOC described as “sudden and arbitrary” disqualifications.
Khelif, who has faced significant online harassment, has since filed a lawsuit over the cyberbullying she endured during the Paris Games.
