Boxing gender debate is a cruel and ignorant beat-up

The controversy and subsequent debate about Algerian boxer Imane Khelif displays a level of ignorance around some of the nuances of human sexual identity (“The Olympics are to blame for a vicious culture war – and three women are its casualties”, August 3). The first thing to note is that she competed in the Tokyo Olympics without controversy. As to her sexual identity, people are assuming without any evidence that she is transsexual, a male who has transitioned to being female. Far more likely is that she is intersexual, with two X chromosomes and one Y. Such people have fully female attributes but may have elevated testosterone levels. The heat being generated around this is more an example of moral panic fed by right-wing culture wars than rational debate. Neil Ormerod, Kingsgrove

The current discussions about female athletes at the Olympic Games, particularly in boxing, are missing the opportunity to educate the general public about the many ways children can be born with what are termed “differences in sexual development” (DSD). There is a range of genetic conditions that can cause someone who has inherited a Y chromosome to be born with predominantly female sex characteristics (e.g. androgen insensitivity syndrome). It’s a complex area of medicine but there needs to be a differentiation made between athletes with DSD and transgender athletes. Megan Kemmis, Marsfield

The abuse and misinformation surrounding Imane Khelif is unfathomable. Being excluded from a previous competition only by the now-discredited International Boxing Association for being born with intersex characteristics does not justify publicly calling her womanhood into question. Have we forgotten that we are talking about a real person? An incredibly hard-working and talented woman from an underrepresented country, for whom nothing will be enough to be forgiven of the sin of perceived biological advantage. Because, as we all know, biological advantages have never been a part of Olympic sport. Liska Fell, Cooks Hill

Last time I entered into the debate about biologically male people competing in biologically female sporting competitions, my elder sister sagely advised me to let the girls sort it out for themselves . But in the case of the Olympics’ regulation, which appears to be dominated by people rather like me – being stale, pale and male, as a mate unkindly put it – this hasn’t happened and they seem to have simply continued the absurdity of allowing such unfair competition, based on the fear of being criticised for not being adequately inclusive to people who are not biologically female but claim to be women. That is an unfortunate condition, I agree, but not a reason to allow an unfair competitive advantage in a sport, which depends on muscle bulk and twitch speed in order to damage your opponent. Peter Thornton, Killara

In athletics sports there is proof beyond reasonable doubt that there is an average 10 to 12 per cent performance gap between elite males and females (“Boxing’s issue with gender eligibility hurts fighters”, August 3). In humans each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes. The 23rd pair, the sex chromosomes, differ between males and females. These two sets of chromosomes (the X and the Y chromosome) determine your sex as male or female when you are born. Females have two X chromosomes (46XX). Males have one X and one Y chromosome (46XY). From a scientific point of view, a transgender female can change any part of her body but the only thing that definitely cannot be changed is her karyotype (chromosomal constitution of a cell). A fair solution is to have a female transgender athlete undergo a simple chromosome analysis. If the outcome is 46XY, consideration must be given to if it would be fair to compete with a 46XX athlete. Matty Silver, Surry hills

Maybe it is time the Olympics introduced an additional category – for transgender athletes to compete with each other – as this is not a matter that is going to go away. Helen Howes, Collaroy

Highlighted by the Olympics and the uncertainty of who should be recognised as being male or female, may I suggest we ban boxing altogether? It is not a sport but nothing more than legalised violence, and how it is not banned, along with greyhound racing, is beyond me. Both so-called sports permit untold damage to the participants, who eventually end up permanently incapacitated. All for the entertainment of others. Carole Hayes, Newtown

Boxing is inherently violent in a way other competitive sports, such as swimming, are not. Whether it’s two men or two women deliberately bashing each other around the head, it is obscene, and in any other context would demand intervention by the police. It should be discontinued from the Olympics. Gayle Davies, Armidale

I suspect the girl your correspondent claims was trans was simply a cis girl that does not fit his prejudices about gender expression (Letters, August 3). Good luck to her and all the gender non-conforming girls who are being harassed by adults who are annoyed that they’re not sufficiently feminine. Samantha Chung, Kensington

Net gains

If the IOC’s goal is to promote women’s sport, how about netball (“How our female Olympians have risen up and roared”, August 3)? A potential Olympic sport must be widely played in at least 75 countries, spread over four continents. Netball is played by 20 million-plus people in more than 117 countries across all continents, and numbers of men playing the sport are booming, unlike other female-dominated Olympic sports like rhythmic gymnastics and synchronised swimming. If breaking and skateboarding are Olympic sports, netball’s popularity would surely give it a valid claim. Perhaps for Brisbane 2032? Alison Stewart, Riverview

Golden moments

There will be so many wonderful highlights from our Olympic team but Saya Sakakibara’s emotional run to, and hug of, brother Kai following her gold medal ceremony was unforgettable. There was not a dry eye from commentators or spectators (“‘I came back to add the gold’: Sakakibara’s home town hails hero”, Sun-Herald, August 4). Denis Suttling, Newport Beach

Beats me why athletes bite their gold medals. They are only likely to damage the gold plating. Or their teeth! Don Leayr, Albury

Dangerous game

If, as Peter Hatcher argues, the risk of Australia becoming a nuclear target is low, why even begin to contemplate the notion that we must develop nuclear weapons because of the remote possibility we can’t depend on the US to defend us in a nuclear conflict (“Nuclear family, don’t count on it”, August 3)? The possession of nuclear weapons makes us a sitting-duck target, the first to be knocked out before the main targets, the US, China and Russia, slog it out. Is the motive here fearmongering, a simplistic extension of the nuclear debate or concern at the apparent weakening role of the US in international relations? Whatever it is, putting the cart before the horse could be a very dangerous game for Australia. Vanessa Tennent, Oatley

With neo-fascism on the rise everywhere, and the unsavoury prospect of a second Trump presidency, our relationship with the USA has never been more important. In addition to the hope that it would come to our aid in extreme circumstances, we need to be able to defend ourselves, especially against a bellicose, expansionary China. That means AUKUS. However, Peter Hartcher quotes Elbridge Colby in arguing that non-proliferation is not working. So what? Despite the despotic Putin’s rumblings I doubt he or Xi would begin a nuclear confrontation. Neither Russia nor China can survive a nuclear war. It would only take a few missiles from the thousands of stockpiled nuclear warheads in countries both democratic and authoritarian to ruin human existence on this planet. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne

More competition is not the answer to our aviation problems

So when Rex enters the capital city aviation market, ex-ACCC chair Rod Sims supports it as a benefit of competition for a better aviation sector (“Rex in freefall”, August 3). But when Qantas enters the regional aviation market, no such support is forthcoming. Rather, he describes it as unwarranted retaliation. Same action, opposite outcome, on Sims’ reading.

This conclusion simply reinforces the contention that increasing “competition” through more players, is not the panacea, with or without slot reform, to the problems inherent in the nature, structure and characteristics of the Australian aviation sector. As Ian Douglas points out, in the US, with some 330 million people, four major carriers account for about 80 per cent of the market, hardly the epitome of competition. The Australian aviation industry is strewn with the fuselages of dead planes that fell in the pursuit of “competition”.

It’s time to drop the folly of competition as the driving force of an efficient aviation sector and introduce a regulatory framework for an efficient industry run in the national interest. To not do so simply means more of the same in future. Andrew Thomas, Leichhardt

Just think. If the VFT Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney to Brisbane had been built 20 years ago, Rex would still be a viable airline servicing regional areas, there would be no need for the incredibly expensive white elephant at Badgerys Creek, and Australia would be well on the way to meeting its emissions targets. Stephen Healion, Wang Wauk

Coastal erosion

The recent storm swells that eroded beaches and dunes along most of NSW’s coastline are a timely reminder of two issues (“‘Unusual’ winter swells wash away Sydney beaches”, August 3). Firstly, the sand that nourishes many of these beaches largely has its original source in the erosion of the sandstone and other geology that borders the coastline. This replenishment will be grossly inadequate to maintain the beaches threatened by the relatively faster rate of sea-level rise. The dunes, where they exist, may provide some short-term contribution to the impending deficit, but it is the equivalent of living on capital rather than interest.

The other crucial concern is the extent of the contribution from governments’ funds toward the building of barriers to protect private shoreline property. Unfortunately, the public purse will be increasingly strained simply by the cost of maintaining or relocating essential infrastructure due to sea-level rise, let alone protecting threatened real estate. Roger Epps, Armidale

Eviction laws

I have provided rental accommodation for 50 years with minimum problems (“NSW to delay evictions ban amid fear over rental market”, August 3). One of my tenants has been on a carry-over lease for nearly 20 years. Abolition of no-fault evictions will have no effect on my existing tenants. Sadly, it will create a sub-class of new renters who will be unable to obtain leases without the impeccable references that will now be essential in a much more critical selection process. I recently approved three young apprentices for a shared house and they have turned out well. The security of no-fault eviction allows landlords to take more risks, to the ultimate benefit of new tenants. William Lloyd, Denistone

The Property Investors Council threatens that investors will leave the rental market if the NSW government bans no-reason evictions. Where will these rental properties go? Will the investors send them on a Pacific cruise, or hide them under their beds? No, they will sell them. This will lift the number of houses and apartments for sale at the middle and lower end of the market, and quite likely lead to lower prices. It will be a win for first home buyers, and the extra stamp duty will help the government’s home building and maintenance programs. Most rental properties will remain available but on fairer terms. It all sounds good to me. Tom Mangan, Woy Woy Bay

Free education

Your correspondent claims free tertiary education “would bankrupt the country”. Not true (Letters, August 4). We are one of the richest nations in the world, in the richest time in history. As economist Richard Denniss points out, the fact that we can’t afford everything is used by politicians as convenient cover to say we can’t afford anything. We can afford anything, it’s simply a matter of agreeing as a nation what our priorities are. The fact that there are other countries who manage to provide free tertiary education gives the lie to this negative belief. Lloyd Swanton, Wentworth Falls

Water safety

When taking into account the millions of people swimming off beaches around NSW, I can’t see how the death of 255 marine animals in the shark nets “just in case of shark bite” can be justified (Letters, August 3). Drones can be used to monitor any sharks near popular beaches, and they can be moved on. Instead, attention should be focused on the hundreds of people drowning in the ocean and rivers every year, and something be done about that. Colleen Riga, Potts Point

Colonial masters

Malcolm Knox’s article stirs the thought in me that the same could be said about Australia meddling in the affairs of “its colony” Norfolk Island (“France still meddles in pacific dominion”, August 3). David Lloyd, Thornleigh

Co-ed battle

As a long-standing Newington old boy, I was appalled by your editorial strongly supporting the college’s decision to become a co-educational school (“A co-ed rebellion by Newington old boys is out of step and now over”, August 2). Contrary to what your editorial suggests, the fact that more than 45 per cent of the old boys who voted in the Council election are opposed to Newington becoming co-educational hardly represents an “embarrassing failure” but rather a clear message that a very substantial proportion of the alumni are not in favour of co-education at their old school. This isn’t in any way sexist as your editorial implies. I’m certain that I share the view of the considerable number of old boys who support the stance taken by the Save Newington College group, when I say that I believe co-education has an important place in our school system, but there is absolutely no justification in Newington being taken down this path when it is functioning very successfully as a boy’s school with a large waiting list of boys waiting to enroll. None of the other GPS schools is contemplating becoming co-educational, and I’m sure most of the leading girls’ schools are vehemently opposed to the idea. The “rebellion” as you put it is far from over. Leon Clavin, St Ives

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