From Boxing Ring to Boardroom – Why the Fight for Fairness Shouldn’t Only be Fought in Sport
From the rain-soaked opening ceremony to the awarding of the very last medal, the 2024 Paris Olympics had its fair share of controversial moments – but perhaps none more so than the women’s boxing match between Italy’s Angela Carini and Algeria’s Imane Khelif.
After only 46 seconds – and two sickening head blows – Carini abandoned her fight, saying she had been hit so hard she “couldn’t breathe anymore” and feared for her life.
The incident sparked an immediate and outraged reaction across the world, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was viciously criticised for allowing Khelif, apparently a biological male, to compete.
Khelif had previously been barred from competing in the 2023 World Championships in Delhi for failing a testosterone test. At the time, Umar Kremlev, president of the International Boxing Association, said DNA tests had “proved she had XY chromosomes, and she was thus excluded.” (XY is the male chromosomal make-up, while female is XX).
Depending on which news publications you read, and which officials you listen to, you’ll encounter hugely varying opinions on the accuracy of these tests, their overall official legitimacy, and the final outcome. But regardless of which end of the gene pool you choose to dive into, there’s no denying it’s a very grey area, to say the least.
Especially when you consider that boxing is a sport with one of the most pronounced performance differences between the sexes. In 2020, the Journal of Experimental Biology documented that men punch an average of 2.6 times harder than women, largely due to their generally wider shoulders and greater bicep strength.
These factors meant the bout between Khelif and Carini was already fiercely controversial before a single punch was thrown, with the IOC facing significant backlash for allowing Carini to enter a competitive boxing ring when her safety could not be guaranteed.
It’s not as though there was an absence of warning signs. In December 2022, Khelif landed so many forceful blows in her fight against Mexico’s Brianda Tamara that Tamara said she was grateful to have left the ring alive. She later told reporters, “I don’t think I had ever felt like that in my 13 years as a boxer, nor in my sparring with men.”
And yet for some unfathomable reason, the IOC decided to allow Khelif to compete in the women’s category in Paris.
In the opinion storm following the incident, Khelif remained defiant, saying, “I want to tell the entire world that I am a female, and I will remain a female.”
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach came out in full support, saying concerns over her and fellow boxer Lin Yu-Ting’s gender identity are “totally unacceptable.”
“We have two boxers who were born as women, who have been raised as women, who have a passport as a woman, and who have competed for many years as women,” he said. “What we see now is that some want to own the definition of who is a woman. All this hate speech, aggression and abuse … is totally unacceptable.”
It is true that both boxers have always competed in women’s divisions, and there’s no indication that they identify as either transgender or intersex. However, that still doesn’t negate the fact that there are clear and serious questions over their eligibility to compete as women in international sport.
It’s an undeniably grey area, and one which is no stranger to controversy. There are many who argue that athletes should be able to compete against the gender with which they identify rather than the sex they were born into.
The organisation Women in Sport is one group speaking out against why this is unfair to women and girls.
An article on their website states, “For centuries, we have not only failed to provide girls and women enough opportunities to take part in sport, but outright banned them.
“Women were excluded from some sports until very recently: the FA banned women’s football between 1921 and 1971. Women have only been allowed to run in the Olympic marathon since 1984 and to participate in pole vault at the Olympics from 2000. Women were not allowed to compete in all sports on the Olympic programme until London 2012.”
Their concern is that if society continues to ignore the biological differences between men and women, and girls and boys, we are inadvertently, but actively seeking to deny women and girls access to sport.
“It’s impossible for anyone to make amends for the injustice, lost dreams and memories of past generations, but we can’t let another generation of girls down today,” they say. “This is not just about prize money or medals; it is about pride and joy; the fundamental principle that sport must be fair and safe for everyone.”
So where does that leave transgender people when it comes to sport? Is the fairest solution to have a separate competition category for transgender athletes?
In their book, Fair Play: How Sports Shape The Gender Debates, ESPN writer Katie Barnes (who uses gender neutral pronouns) writes that there is no scientific or empirical evidence to support the categorical bans on trans student athlete participation that have now become law in 23 US states. They go on to say, however, that some restrictions are appropriate at higher levels of competition, but that there should always be a pathway to participation for all trans athletes.
“We can have multiple thoughts at the same time — multiple things can be true at once,” they said.
I’m not sure Angela Carini would agree. She was heard saying to her coach after her abandoned match, “It’s not fair.”
A sentiment that I’m sure she shares with many other cisgender female athletes.
I cannot be the only one who finds it intensely ironic that sport, by its very definition, requires people to follow both written and unwritten rules to make it fair. Hence the terms “sporting behaviour” and “sportsmanship.” There is an intrinsic expectation that people will behave responsibly to ensure respect, fairness, and safety.
Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, said that “The fact that Angela withdrew makes me sad. I was emotional when she wrote, ‘I will fight’, because, in these things, dedication, head and character also count. This, from my point of view, was not a competition on equal terms. It was not fair.”
Khelif, on the other hand, responded by saying, “I am here for gold. I’ll fight anyone.” This is exactly the kind of “win at all costs” attitude that flies in the face of all that is supposed to be fair about sport.
As a forensic investigator, I can’t help but find parallels between this story and the way so many organisations choose to do business.
So often, while investigating allegations of corporate or public sector wrongdoings, I’m struck by the unfairness of it all. Why, when there are so many ethical business leaders working hard to do the right things in the right way, do we have so many unethical people making easy money by doing the wrong thing and getting away with it?
When did the fundamental principles of fair play become so disposable?
Fair play, and the principles of fairness, are essential and pivotal parts of sport, business and life in general. By promoting development, involvement, tolerance and respect, fairness encourages hope, pride and a strong sense of identity and belonging.
Strangely enough, it was Jacques Rogge, the former president of the IOC, who once said, “It takes more than crossing the line first to make a champion. A champion is more than a winner. A champion is someone who respects the rules, rejects doping and competes in the spirit of fair play.”
I wonder what he thinks of the recent events in Paris.
In my opinion, respecting the rules and competing in the spirit of fair play are two of the most essential elements of success in sport and business.
There is significant statistical evidence to support this.
Research from Harvard Business Review reveals that perceptions of fairness improve employee performance by up to 26% and retention by up to 27%.
And yet, studies also show most employees (Gartner quotes statistics of over 80%) don’t feel as though their work environment is fair.
So, what can organisations do to turn that around?
Essentially, most remedial action can be grouped under one of four key factors:
- Transparency
Stats tell us that only around a third of all organisations practise true transparency – yet over two-thirds of employees say they would leave one company for another based on its transparency practices. Keeping employees informed and ensuring information is disseminated equally throughout the workforce is critical.
- Competition
Competition is a driving force in business, pushing companies to innovate and improve. But when the focus is solely on outperforming competitors, unethical practices often surface. I understand that the lure of attractive short-term gains is seductive, but nothing is worth sacrificing your hard-won reputation and customer trust. Sustainable success is built on trust, integrity, and ethical conduct.
- Ethical leadership
Ethical leadership is the cornerstone of any thriving business. Unethical leadership, on the other hand, can create a culture of fear, mistrust, and unethical behaviour throughout the entire organisation. When employees witness or experience unethical behaviour, they’re more likely to feel dissatisfied and burned out at work. Ethical leaders prioritise their employees’ well-being, creating a positive work environment where employees feel valued and respected.
- Customer relations
Customer satisfaction is closely linked to employee morale. Happy employees are more likely to deliver exceptional customer service, which leads to increased customer loyalty and positive word-of-mouth. A customer-centric culture, where employees feel supported in delivering outstanding service, is essential for both employee and customer satisfaction.
There is absolutely no doubt that cultivating a culture of fairness is essential for the long-term success of any business.
Try these strategies to help you evaluate your practices and promote fairness:
- Education and awareness: Workshops, training and seminars give your employees the opportunity to learn why fairness in business is more than just a box ticking exercise, it’s a sustainable strategy for success.
- Develop a clear fairness policy: Define what fairness means for your organisation and communicate it clearly to all stakeholders.
- Lead by example: Demonstrate a strong commitment to fairness in your own actions and decisions.
- Transparent communication: Foster open and honest communication at all levels of your organisation.
- Continuous improvement: Regularly review and update fairness initiatives to adapt to changing circumstances.
At the end of the day, it is every business owner’s responsibility to create a business that not only thrives financially but also makes a positive impact on society.
Remember, fairness is not just a moral obligation but a strategic business advantage.