THE 2024 Paris Olympics have already succeeded in becoming one of the most controversial Games ever held.

First we were treated to an opening ceremony that reached new heights of provocation for many watching around the world, while when it comes to the women’s boxing event the participation of two intersex fighters has broken new ground. Though not necessarily in a good way.

The sight of Algeria’s fighter Imane Khelif — who was banned from competing as a woman at the women’s amateur world championships last year by the IBA, after failing to pass a gender test — dishing out a vicious beating to Mexican female fighter Brianda Tamara poses a searching and serious question.

When it comes to competitive sport, should the safety of women take priority over the rights of either trans or intersex athletes to compete as females?

And when considering this question, how when it comes to the combat sport of boxing can it ever be deemed safe for such a scenario to be sanctioned, given the natural advantage in size and strength involved?

The IOC seems to have been caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place on this question, but surely it is a question that answers itself on grounds of safety alone.

Perhaps the solution, going forward, might lie with the introduction of a separate transgender/intersex category in world and Olympic amateur boxing.

One thing is certain: the footage of Brianda Tamara being completely overwhelmed in the ring by the power of Imane Khelifi simply can’t be ignored.

Staying with the Olympics, and women’s boxing, GB’s Rosie Eccles was rightly devastated to lose by split decision against Poland’s Aneta Rygielska in the second round of the 66kg women’s category.

Eccles, who bagged a Commonwealth gold for Wales in 2022, dominated the action throughout, so what those judges who gave the nod to her Polish counterpart were looking at, who knows?

The chorus of boos which rang out among the audience in response to the decision told its own story.

“I knew I’d won the fight. I’m really, really shocked,” Eccles told the BBC afterwards, while holding back tears.

Another controversial decision saw GB’s Judoka Giles being overlooked in favour of Brazil’s Larissa Pimenta, again in the second round but this time in the women’s 52kg category.

When you consider what these Olympians sacrifice and put themselves through in preparation for the Games, the pinnacle of the sport which only comes around once every four years, it is heartbreaking to witness athletes being the victim of such questionable judging.

As for the GB men’s boxing squad, super-heavyweight contender Delicious Orie was also left devastated after losing a split decision to his Armenian opponent, Davit Chaloyan, in their fiercely contested first-round bout.

“I was fairly surprised at the result,” the 27-year-old said afterwards. “I feel like I did just enough to edge it.

“I’m just going to have to take it. I’ve been hit, I’ve been hurt, I’ve been dropped in sparring. I’ve been wounded as an athlete, but this is the worst thing I’ve had to go through.”

Overall, the 2024 Paris Games have turned out to be a damp squib for GB boxing. Controversial judging decisions aside, a slew of fighters going out of the tournament early has defined the squad’s fortunes. Questions will be asked as to why in the weeks ahead.

Perhaps the set-up needs to be reviewed when it comes to coaching and preparation. Or maybe it’s just a case of the current crop of GB amateur talent not possessing the ability of previous crops.

It’s certainly a far cry from the 2012 London Games, where Anthony Joshua burst onto the scene with his gold medal triumph in the super-heavyweight division. London 2012 is also where a young Luke Campbell memorably took the gold in the 56kg category.

Amateur boxing has traditionally been where fighters have built the foundations and developed the fundamentals required to make it in the pros. But in truth they are almost entirely different sports.

In the amateurs, the emphasis is on amassing points over three rounds of three minutes in duration. The result is a contest big on work rate, but occasionally low on skill and nuance.

Punches in the amateurs are lighter and there is no time to set anything up. You come out at the opening bell and fire off as many scoring shots as you can manage, while your opponent does the same.

In the pros, over 8 to 12 rounds, strategy is key, as is the ability to pick your moments, conserve energy and hurt your opponent whenever the opportunity presents.

This is why not every amateur champion automatically goes on to succeed in the pro game. The ability to make the transition is not guaranteed, regardless of how successful a career you may have had in the amateurs.

There are, though, a few top amateur Olympic champions who you just knew would go on to excel as pros. Footage of a young Cassius Clay dancing his way through the Rome Olympics way back in 1960 makes clear that he was destined for greatness. Same with Sugar Ray Leonard at the 1976 Montreal Games.

Amateur boxing is, despite its drawbacks, still the lifeblood of the sport. Amateur clubs across the country are run by volunteers, men and women who, after a full day’s work, give up their free time to open up gyms, train kids, and give them guidance and a sense of purpose.

The vast majority of those kids will, of course, not go on to compete at the top level. But what they gain from the experience of training and being part of an amateur set-up is immeasurable.

Another thing that cannot be challenged when it comes to the gyms that I’ve experienced both here in Britain and over in the US, is that racism and bigotry is left at the door.

It is where you understand the inarguable truth that we all bleed, and we all sweat the same.

At this particular time, given where we are as a society, this is a truth that needs to be shouted from the rooftops.