The Hungarian Boxing Association is protesting against Luca Hámori's quarterfinal opponent.

The Hungarian Boxing Association (MÖSZ) will send an official letter to the Hungarian and International Olympic Committees to protest that Luca Hámori has to face Algerian Imane Helif, who was disqualified from last year's world championships due to his high testosterone level, in the quarterfinals of the 66 kg weight group at the Paris Games.

A scandal broke out in connection with the African boxer after his round of 16 on Thursday morning,

after his Italian rival gave up on him after barely 40 seconds, he refused to shake hands with him and called the situation unfair.

He did all this because Helife was excluded from the World Cup last year by the International Sports Association (IBA) due to his high testosterone level, and IBA President Umar Kremljov said at the time that he had an XY chromosome during the tests. The IOC - which organizes the Olympic boxing competitions to the exclusion of the IBA - at the same time allows it to participate.

I am very sad that the ball is on hold and we have to talk about a topic that is not compatible with sports - Lajos Berkó, a member of the executive board of the Hungarian association, said on Thursday at the venue of the boxing tournament.

"This is unacceptable and outrageous! The Hungarian Boxing Association seizes every opportunity to make this a reality and the colleagues are already preparing the official letter to the Hungarian Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee. In this, we express our indignation and request that the IOC reconsider its decision, which allowed a competitor into the IOC's competition system, who was previously banned from the World Championships because he was found to have an XY chromosome during the tests," said Lajos Berkó, who also added that that MÖSZ examines whether there is a legal remedy against Helif's role.

On the other hand, he stated: Luca Hámori will definitely enter the ring on Saturday afternoon in the quarter-finals, in which the medal will be at stake.

"It didn't even cross our minds that Luca wouldn't be there for the match. I spoke to him five minutes ago. She is pumped up, she feels very good in the ring and anyone who saw her match against the Irish girl today can agree with me that it is good to see her in the ring", Lajos Berkó praised the competitor from Kőszegi, who defeated Grainne Walsh in Sunday's qualifier , then in Thursday's round of 16, she easily defeated the Australian Marissa Williamson.

"If the IOC allows such an inequality to develop between women, we will condemn it in every forum and we will voice this, but we will not deprive our competitor of the opportunity to box for an Olympic medal," said Berkó.

Hámori previously said about Helif that those who let her go must have been convinced that she was a woman. At the same time, he is preparing for the clash and these question marks about his Algerians would only make his victory, which is his goal, even more valuable.

MTI

Cover image: in the round of 16 of his kilogram weight class at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics at the Arena Nord in Paris on August 1, 2024.
Source: MTI/Tibor Illyés