As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) prepares for a leadership transition, the world of sports is closely watching the upcoming vote in March. With the departure of Thomas Bach, the IOC must choose a new president to navigate global challenges and ensure the integrity of both the Summer and Winter Games.
Among the seven candidates vying for this prestigious position is Johan Eliasch, a Swedish businessman, investor, and philanthropist with a deep-rooted belief in the unifying power of sports. Eliasch, 63, is best known for leading the sporting goods brand Head from 1995 to 2021 and for co-founding Cool Earth, a nonprofit dedicated to rainforest conservation. His vision for the Olympic movement includes not only strengthening its global impact but also addressing one of the most complex and debated issues in modern athletics—fairness in women’s sports.
The discussion surrounding gender and competition has grown increasingly intense, especially after the controversies surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting. Both athletes, assigned female at birth, were initially ruled ineligible for the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) over gender eligibility concerns. However, the IOC, which had taken control of Olympic boxing after stripping the IBA of recognition due to governance failures, allowed them to compete in the Paris Games, where they won gold medals.
At the heart of the debate is the definition of fair competition. Currently, many Olympic sports determine gender eligibility based on testosterone levels rather than XY chromosomes, as some women naturally have higher testosterone due to conditions known as differences of sex development (DSD). While some argue that elevated testosterone provides an advantage in strength and endurance, scientific research on the extent of that advantage remains inconclusive.
Eliasch believes this issue demands clarity. He insists that fairness in women’s sports must be upheld despite cultural and political pressures. His position is that eligibility rules should be grounded in biological science rather than shifting policies or interpretations.
“If an athlete carries the SRY gene, which plays a critical role in male sex differentiation, then she does not belong in female competition,” Eliasch explains in an interview with The National. “The playing field must be level. We need a science-driven, fact-based approach to preserve the integrity of women’s sports.”
The IOC’s current policy for women’s boxing—using the gender listed on an athlete’s passport—has been in place since the 2016 Rio Games. However, Eliasch believes stronger guidelines are necessary to avoid inconsistencies and ensure fair competition.
As the race for IOC presidency intensifies, Eliasch’s stance on women’s sports could influence the direction of the Olympic movement. With issues of gender identity, biology, and competitive fairness at the forefront, his leadership could mark a turning point in how global sports navigate these evolving challenges. Whether the IOC will embrace his vision remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Eliasch is determined to create a sporting landscape where fairness is not just an ideal, but a reality.