New attack on women from Olympics says Roccella

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 11 - Italian Family, Equal Opportunities and Birth Rate Minister Eugenia Roccella said Sunday the Paris Olympics had marked a fresh attack on women after IOC chief Thomas Bach said there was no "scientifically sound" system of distinguishing men and women amid the gender controversy swirling around hyper-androgynous Algerian gold medal winner Imane Khelif.
    Khalif was criticised after an Italian boxer walked out of their last 16 bout citing fears for her life but was later lauded by most observers and will be Algeria's flag bearer at the closing ceremony later Sunday.
    Roccella said Bach's statement that there was no 'scientifically sound' system to mark out the sexes, and an Afghan refugee athlete's disqualification for displaying the words Free Afghan Women, were "two sides of the same coin, which is certainly not an Olympic medal but that of a new patriarchy that attacks women by striking at their identity, that is, by not recognising the reality of the sexed body".
    She said the Paris Games had "marked a new leap forward in the attack on women". (ANSA).