Peters delivers self-uppercut with cynical boxing claims

Comment: The Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters bounded out of his corner on X to voice his concerns about gender rules in sports, specifically highlighting controversy over Olympic athletes Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan. 
Peters claimed that an Olympic female boxer abandoned a match and sobbed in the ring after being hit by an opponent who “previously failed a gender test”. He argued that this scenario exemplified the need for stricter gender rules to ensure fairness and safety in women’s sports. 
However, Peters’ comments, while ostensibly concerned for athletes’ wellbeing, are a disturbing example of disinformation that manipulates public opinion and fosters division. 
First, it is essential to set out the facts for the record.
Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from the 2023 World Championships due to gender eligibility tests but were later cleared to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The disqualification was announced by IBA Russian President Umar Kremlev after Khelif defeated Russian boxer Azalia Amineva in the 2023 tournament. Kremlev cited undisclosed DNA test results indicating the presence of XY chromosomes and high testosterone levels. 
However, it is crucial to note the athletes deny being transgender, and the results of these tests were not published, leaving the public with unanswered questions. 
Furthermore, the credibility of IBA President Umar Kremlev is severely undermined by widespread allegations of corruption within the organisation he leads. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) took the extraordinary step of withdrawing the Olympic status of the International Boxing Association (IBA) in June 2023, citing a litany of governance, financial, refereeing, and ethical scandals. 
The IOC’s decision was a response to the IBA’s failure to meet conditions for lifting its suspension, an issue exacerbated by Kremlev’s controversial leadership. 
Notably, Kremlev’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian boxers to compete under their flags, in defiance of the IOC’s guidance, sparked further controversy. This led to an 11-nation boycott of the 2023 women’s world championships, including New Zealand, and increased scrutiny of his leadership. 
As a result, boxing’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is jeopardised, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of mismanagement and corruption at the highest levels of sports governance. 
The IOC’s intervention aims to restore integrity and ensure a fair and corruption-free environment for athletes, underscoring the critical need for transparency and ethical conduct in sports administration. 
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has endorsed the eligibility of athletes with Differences in Sexual Development (DSD) to compete, emphasising that misinformation from certain groups, including conservative and anti-LGBTQIA+ commentators, is misleading. 
DSD encompasses various genetic, hormonal, and anatomical variations and is not synonymous with being transgender. These conditions are complex and should not be oversimplified or used to incite public fear. 
The IOC’s policies aim to balance fairness and inclusivity, recognising that gender identity and biological differences are intricate and should be addressed with scientific understanding rather than sensationalism. 
Peters’ assertion that “biological men should not compete in women’s sports” misrepresents the reality of gender diversity and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. His comments do not account for the nuanced and scientifically informed policies that governing sports bodies, like the IOC, have developed. 
These policies are designed to balance fairness, inclusivity, and safety, acknowledging that gender identity and biological sex are complex topics that cannot be reduced to simplistic or exclusionary rules. 
The rhetoric employed by Peters is not merely a matter of personal opinion; it is an act of disinformation. Such disinformation—false information deliberately spread with the intent to deceive—serves to manipulate public sentiment, obscure the truth, and achieve specific political objectives. 
In this case, the aim seems to be to garner support by appealing to fear and misunderstanding, rather than fostering a constructive dialogue based on facts and empathy. 
It is ironic, then, that Peters and his political party, NZ First, profess to protect freedom of speech by opposing hate speech laws. Yet, in disseminating misleading information, they contribute to an environment of hostility and division. 
True freedom of speech must be coupled with a commitment to truth and responsible communication. Disinformation, especially when propagated by public officials, is a betrayal of this principle and an affront to the values of transparency and integrity that are essential to a healthy democracy. 
The consequences of such disinformation are far-reaching. It sows discord, fosters prejudice, and diverts attention from real issues that need addressing, such as the fair and inclusive participation of all athletes in sports. 
It undermines trust in public institutions and hinders the development of policies that are informed by science and respect for human rights. 
As citizens, we must hold our leaders accountable for their words and actions. The dissemination of disinformation is the worst kind of political manoeuvring because it tears down rather than builds up. 
It exploits ignorance and fear, rather than fostering understanding and unity. 
We deserve better from our public officials; we deserve leaders who seek to inform and uplift, not those who spread falsehoods for political gain. 
Peters’ statements on gender rules in sports are a troubling example of disinformation that must be addressed and corrected. It is incumbent upon all of us—citizens, media, and public figures alike—to prioritise truth, foster informed discussions, and resist divisive narratives that undermine the cohesion of our society. 
Only then can we build a community where fairness, safety, and inclusion are genuinely upheld in all areas of life, including sports.
*This column has been amended to remove an image of a tweet, introduced during editing, that was not from the boxer Imane Khelif. Our apologies.