No one could blame women Olympians if they had decided to keep quiet so as not to incur the wrath of the IOC. But several have bravely decided to speak out against the deep unfairness of women having to box competitors enjoying the advantages of male puberty. Italy’s Carini said ‘non è giusto’ (‘it’s not fair’) during her defeat to Khelif. Bulgaria’s Svetlana Staneva and Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman made double XX signs with their hands in protest after their defeats to Lin. Beyond the boxing ring, Chinese sprinter Lin Yuwei made a similar XX gesture ahead of her 100-metre race.

Their collective refusal to bow down to the misogynist rulings of the IOC ought to inspire us all. They have struck a blow far more powerful than any Khelif or Lin have been able to land in the ring. They have taken a vital stand against gender ideology, and the demand that women acquiesce to its demands.